Virginia City Ghost Town•Montana

00:00     Title
00:16     Virginia City
11:41     Nevada City
18:41     Fin
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​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 one of the most famous is Virginia City, Montana!

​As the old story goes, 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 the 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 under Union Army jurisdiction. Varina was a confederate mining town in a precarious spot, so the historic accounts read like sheer pandemonium.

Lawlessness was taken for granted as being a way of life in old Virginia City. The rich glacial placer claims drew thousands of people seeking quick riches and this town attracted nearly as many unsavory types. This dangerous remote area had no justice system or lawmen, so the criminal activity ran thick. Because this mining area was so remote, those who were hauling gold over the long trails were subject to robbers called Road Agents way back then. The Road Agents were truly despised and when one was captured, there was guaranteed to be a big hanging party in town. 

Boot Hill overlooks the town of Virginia City and this is the famous graveyard where many of the 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.

Virginia City remained lawless until well after the Montana Territory was established 1864. When civilization finally caught up, this entire region was booming with placer and lode mines that initially produced great numbers. By the early 1870s, Virginia City was a commerce hub for the entire gold producing region, so the local businesses flourished. For the same reason, Virginia City also was a haven for every vice known to mankind.

The era of prosperity in Virginia City was short lived, because the regional political structure moved from neighboring Bannack to Helena in 1875. The center of commerce in Virginia City also shifted to Helena, so this town saw almost no growth from that point onward. By the time that the 1890s rolled around, old original Virginia City was pretty much an abandoned ghost town. Fortunately, the locals formed a preservation society and they started purchasing the decaying old wooden buildings before they were lost forever. The long term Virginia City preservation project was a success and this old ghost town is now a National Historic Landmark.

Not all ghost towns are alike and what sets Virginia City apart 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!