A Walk Back in Time - A Couple of Old Mining Ghost Towns

 

Nevada City and Virginia City are two old mining towns, about three miles apart in SW Montana.  Both have their own unique charm and ambiance, maintained to help preserve and tell the story of post Civil War era gold mining here in Montana.

This was a rather last minute, impromptu  weekend get away.  I booked a very nice B&B for my Saturday night, with plans to enjoy the area on Saturday and then head back to Yellowstone National Park via West Yellowstone on Sunday.

Just an Experience is located as you enter Nevada City from Virginia City, as was a perfect location.  My hosts Carma & John have a beautiful home (built in 1864), with a couple of old historic mining cabins also available for lodging.  I was in the main lodge in the Franklin Room.  With a queen size bed and private bathroom, it was very comfortable.

And breakfast . . . it was wonderful too!  I would highly recommend Just an Experience to anyone looking to get way for a couple of days.

But back to the two mining towns . . .

Nevada City has a small street front, with a few buildings and businesses open to the public.  But the real history here is beyond the gate, for which there is a small admission fee, between $8 and $12, depending on age and day of the week you visit.  There are approximately 50 historic buildings that have been assembled here to depict life in the 19th century.  Some are remarkably well maintained and furnished just as they would have appeared when over 10,000 people lived in this area after gold was discovered in Adler Gulch in 1863.  Here are just a few of the photos I took including the barbershop, tavern, schoolhouse and post office.

I especially enjoyed looking at the Finney Homestead, which is still largely as it looked when the family lived here, right up until the 1950's.

Over in Virginia City, the main street is filled with buildings from the same era but the settlement has a different feel, as there are several modern businesses occupying the buildings, including the oldest saloon in Montana - The Bale of Hay.  And next door to it is the 1890's livery stable, turned opera house where the Virginia City Players offer wonderful local community theater productions depicting stories from the era, plus vaudeville shows mixing contemporary humor with the rustic flavor from the days of mining in the area.

Some of the buildings are still in a bit of disrepair, and could use some refurbishing, but all in all, the walking area in Virginia City is well worth a visit.  

While in town, also be sure to check out the Fairweather Inn, which today is a guest house open to visitors to also take a peek around.

That evening, I enjoyed a Wagon Ghost Tour, learning a bit more about the history and legends of the day.  We heard of the ghostly presence in several of the old houses in town.  We also ventured up to Boot Hill, the final resting place of five road agents who were hung by a group of vigilantes in January 1864. 

As far as local history and folklore goes, it doesn't get much "wilder" in the wild wild west, than the story of these five who are buried up on Boot Hill.

For more information and to plan your own trip to Virginia City & Nevada City, check out their website!  If you are an American history buff, or have even a casual interest in this region of the country, I hope you'll consider a visit too.