by Sean Block |
In 1849, some fortunate pioneers were resting in the hills above Washoe valley when they came across a chance discovery; gold so thick it could be pulled from the rock by hand. Ill-equipped for mining, they took a few pieces and continued on their way. However, as they ventured westward, their tale of rivers lined with gold went with them; and the gold rush had begun.
Hopeful miners and prospectors scattered themselves among the hills, looking to strike it rich. Years later, Johnstown, a mining settlement in western Utah picked up and moved en-masse to an unnamed hilltop overlooking Carson City. Among them was an old drunk named James Finney. Lore has it that “Ol’ Virginny,” as he was known to the miners, was stumbling whiskey-in-hand through the canvas tents of town when he slipped; smashing his jug and losing its contents into the dirt. Exasperated, he poured the last drops on the ground and bellowed, “I claim this land Virginny City!” So in 1859, Virginia City got its name. By a year later, the canvas tents were replaced by busy streets and booming businesses. Ornate buildings, a grand opera house, modern schools, hospitals and churches sprung from the ground as the Comstock lode rapidly created what was, for a brief time, the richest town in America.
However Virginia City has a very violent past. Lynching and murder were everyday occurrences. Fires routinely killed workers and destroyed mines and buildings. From the beginning, there were few laws and less enforcement protecting miner’s discoveries. Claims were protected by the men who founded them. The revolver was law. The rampant violence and harsh conditions left a mark upon the land. Virginia City is widely considered by believers and skeptics alike to be one of the most haunted places in the world.
Places of Interest:
The Railroad – Round-trip train rides are available on the historic Virginia & Truckee Railroad from Virginia City to Carson City and Gold Hill (and vice versa.) The train runs daily from May 29, to October 31. Fares are $9 for the diesel train and $10 for the steam engine.
Museums – 12 museums occupy Virginia City, often pertaining to and located at specific historic landmarks. Mark Twain, Gambling, and Wild-West Museums make up just a few of the many options for visitors looking to learn about the city’s past.
Storey County Courthouse – Rebuilt in 1875 after a fire burned two-thirds of Virginia City to the ground. The lavish building was long considered one of the grandest courthouses in the nation.
John Mackay’s Home – Located on D Street. John Mackay was one of the most influential men in Virginia City. The school of mining at the University of Nevada, Reno bears his last name. John W. Mackay was born on November 28, 1831 in Dublin, Ireland. At nine years old, his family immigrated to New York. Mackay began his career in mining in 1851, at the age of 18. In 1860, he made the move from California to Virginia City, Nevada. There, he worked a ‘rathole’ mine, an inexpensive and crude operation that rarely yielded much result. However his location on Gold Hill was one exception and made him his first millions. In 1873, Mackay and his partners struck the famous Comstock vein, producing over $180 Million of Gold, Silver, and other ore. Mackay was an industrious man and, after the heyday of the Gold Rush, used his newfound wealth for numerous projects including the Bank of Nevada, two telegraph and postal companies, and the first telegraph cable across the Atlantic. Mackay moved to San Francisco to form the Commercial Cable Company. After his death in 1902, his son and wife erected a statue commemorating Mackay on the UNR campus in 1908.
4th Ward School – Also built after the 1875 fire, it was the most modern school in the country at the time. The school graduated its last class in 1936.
Piper’s Opera House – Between A and B Streets, the opulent theater once featured entertainers such as Harry Houdini and Buffalo Bill Cody. The Opera House maintains a museum on-site.
Gold Hill – The location of the first claims of the lode. Currently a great place to get a beer.
Presbyterian Church – On C Street, it is the only remaining church built during the city’s heyday. This was the parish of the famous Father Patric Manogue.
The Cemetery – The Virginia City graveyard is an eerie and irresistible place. The names scrawled on the crumbling headstones date back to the area’s very first non-Indian residents.
Mine Tours – Multiple locations offer tours of the Virginia City mines and can easily be found online.
References:
- Virginia City Walking Tour
- KC Government Publications
- Virginia City; Its History–Its Ghosts
- Zauner, Phyllis (Special Collections Library, UNR)
Follow Us