Virginia City & Nevada City

The old ghost towns of the west certainly are windows of the past and each has plenty of stories to tell. Most of the old west ghost towns originated overnight with the discovery of a local ore bearing site. The west was a vast expanse of dangerous wide open spaces when gold fever struck in the mid 1800s and the earliest gold camps in remote places faced great challenges that only those stricken with gold fever would be crazy enough to conquer. Some gold camp regions were so dangerous that it took many years for civility to catch up. The pace of the gold rush moved so fast back in those days that the local folk did not hesitate to abandon their own town to move on to new horizons when the local mines dried up. The result was plenty of time capsules of the past and two of the most famous are Nevada City and Virginia City, Montana!

Prospectors discovered gold in a creek in 1863 within the Crow Nation territory. The danger of tribal war did not slow the prospectors down and soon a town appeared on a map as Varina, which was the original name of Nevada City. The American Civil War was in full swing at that time and Montana was within the Union Army realm. Varina was a confederate mining town in a precarious spot, so the historic accounts read like sheer pandemonium.

Not all ghost towns are alike and what sets both Nevada City and Virginia City apart from the rest is the tough nature of the setting. The old original main street area is very rustic, because so many of the buildings were made with split timbers and rough hewn lumber. Walking on the wooden plank sidewalk and looking at the faded signs on the storefronts is like traveling back in time to an age when mountain men were still exploring this territory. Virginia City also has modern style buildings from when this town was a territorial commerce center and the architecture is something to marvel over.

Virginia City is the pride and joy of Montana and this old ghost town now thrives as a summer season tourism destination. Nevada City is right next door, so these two famous ghost towns can be experienced during one day trip. Lodging options included booking rooms in the old original miner cabins and there are plenty shops that market locally crafted goods. Visiting the museums is the best way to learn about the wild west history and old Virginia City sure does have plenty of interesting stories to tell.

Boot Hill overlooks the town of Virginia City and this is the famous graveyard where many Road Agents were buried. The names are fading on the markers, but the full story of Boot Hill and the history of old Virginia City can be found in any of the museums on Main Street. The Road Agents certainly were some sinister characters, so touring Boot Hill first will provide a glimpse into just how dangerous this place was back in the day.

Nevada City is literally located right next door to Virginia City, so both of these famous Montana ghost towns can easily be toured in one day. The old placer gold fields are located next to Nevada City and there are active claims that are open for visitors, which means any extra daylight hours can be spent panning for the shiny metal. Volumes of old west history took place in this area and a lot can be learned about the past, so a trip to Nevada City and Virginia City is guaranteed to be a fulfilling experience!

00:00 Title
00:16 Virginia City
11:41 Nevada City
18:41 Fin