TimManBlog

Mark Twain’s Virginia City, Nevada

May 31, 2023
(photos and memories from May 9, 2012)
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The first thing you need to know about Virginia City, Nevada, is that it looks much the same today as when it was the Silver Capital of the World in the mid-1800s.

From Wikipedia:
“Virginia City developed as a boomtown with the 1859 discovery of the Comstock Lode, the first major silver deposit discovery in the United States, with numerous mines opening. The population peaked in the mid-1870s, with an estimated 25,000 residents. The mines’ output declined after 1878, and the population declined as a result. As of the 2020 census, the population of Virginia City was 787.“

Mark Twain was and is Virginia City’s most famous resident. The writer arrived in Nevada in 1861 as Samuel Clemens but used his famous pen name “Mark Twain” for the first time while a reporter for the Territorial Enterprise newspaper of Virginia City. Wikipedia has an excellent recap of Clemens at this point in his life. Follow this link to Mark Twain in Nevada.

The streets of Virginia City are a set of parallel roads clinging to the side of a cliff. The streets are named with letters rather than numbers and step down the cliffside like stairs — “A” Street is at the highest level of town; “C” Street is the main street; “R” Street is at the very bottom of town.  Entrances to the mines are just below town.  I noticed an igneous rock formation down the hill, likely associated with the rich ore.

Most buildings along “C” Street in the center of town were built in the 19th century as merchant shops. Today, these are tourist attractions. Many are refurbished hotels and saloons with striking names such as the “Bucket of Blood” Saloon.

Not all the old buildings are saloons. Many are mercantile ventures refurbished as clothing or souvenir shops.

A sense of humor runs throughout the old stores of Virginia City.

Not every building is associated with the tourist trade. Below: (left) St. Mary in the Mountains Catholic Church (still in use as a church); (center) Virginia City Middle School (Go Comstockers!); (right) United States Post Office, Virginia City, NV 89440.

Virginia City is the seat of Storey County, Nevada. The courthouse was built in 1876 near the height of the silver boom. The building dominates the “C” Street district of town.

The front of the courthouse is painted white and gold.  Unfortunately, getting a frontal photo is challenging since “C” Street is so narrow.  The historical sign mentions that the statue of Lady Justice above the front door has no blindfold over her eyes.  Only 20 other such Justice statues in the country are blindfold-less.

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A list of all photo posts from the American County Seats series in TimManBlog can be found here.

All photos were taken by the author on May 9, 2012.

My lifetime hobby is traveling to all of America’s county courthouses, and each month I post about a visit to a scenic or interesting county seat. It’s a hobby, and donations are greatly appreciated to help cover my costs.
Thanks,
Tim