Virginia City Nevada

Overview

Virginia City, Nevada is one of America's largest Historic Landmarks. It can be found just southeast of Reno, Nevada. Mark Twain even once roamed the streets of Virginia City. In its heyday, the City boasted a population of nearly 30,000. Today, this historic landmark has approximately 1,500 full time residents.

Once called "The Richest Place on Earth," Virginia City continues to offer glimpses of its splendid past at every corner. Here you can visit underground mines, historic saloons, stately mansions open to the public, and old cemeteries.

Location

Virginia City is only 23 miles from Reno, only 15 miles from Carson City, and only 40 Miles from Lake Tahoe.

Lodging and Services

Virginia City/Gold Hill, the area known as the Comstock, has over 150 rooms available for the traveler to stay. There are several motels, hotels and bed and breakfasts. Clean and comfortable with a Victorian flavor, our hotels offer modern and historic Comstock flair. Quaint bed and breakfasts provide that comfortable home feeling set into historic buildings.

Choose from a variety of eateries in town. From hot dogs to fine dining... café faire with traditional American cuisine to deli and Chinese, Tex-Mex or barbeque cooked on site at their best.

Activities

Museums, historic homes, traditional western saloons and mine tours can all be found in Virginia City, offering a taste of the West to visitors from nearby big cities or across the country. Outside of town are mountains that overlook this rugged area at the eastern edge of the Sierra Nevada, and world-famous Lake Tahoe is a stone's throw away.

Attractions

The following are a few of the most popular tourist attractions in the area around Virginia City.

• Fourth Ward School Museum
  This historic building erected in 1876 to house more than 1,000 students graduated its last class in 1936. Today, art exhibitions, oral history lectures and scholar-in-residence programs are available for visitors and residents.
• Piper’s Opera House
  Built in 1885 and still in use, Piper's Opera House has recently undergone extensive restoration. This stage once welcomed President Grant, Buffalo Bill, Al Jolson and Mark Twain. Plus, viewers of shows at Piper’s Opera House can keep their eye out for the ghosts who are said to attend many of the performances.
• St. Mary’s in the Mountains Catholic Church
  Virginia City is home to a number of beautiful churches reflective of the late 19th century culture. One such church is St. Mary in the Mountains, arguably the most prominent historical structure and institution in Virginia City. The church was rebuilt by Bishop Manogue following the Great Fire of 1875. Today, the church holds weekly mass and also features a museum displaying numerous church artifacts and photographs.

Getting Here

Virginia City is best accessed via car from Reno, southbound on US Route 395 to eastbound State Route 341.