Virginia City, NV, became a boom town with the discovery of silver in the Comstock Lode in 1859. Four years later a reporter for the city’s newspaper, a man by the name of Samuel Clemens, first used the name Mark Twain. By 1873 the population of Virginia City had grown to 25,000. The numerous mines eventually would produce $1,200,000,000 (in today’s dollars), causing Virginia City to be known as the richest city in the U. S. Much of the original town remains and major points of interest include:
C Street
Many of the same businesses that were there 150 years ago are still in business. C Street annually ranks in the top ten Historic Main Streets in America, and Virginia City itself was the largest historic landmark ever to be added to the National Registry of Historic Places. The first photo is undated and the third shows three bars in the 1940s.
Bucket of Blood Saloon
In 1875 most of Virginia City was destroyed in a massive fire. The following year the Bucket Of Blood Saloon opened and is still a must-stop on any tour of the town. The first photo was taken in the 1940s.
Piper Opera House
The Piper Opera House was built in 1885 and hosted the likes of Caruso, Houdini, John Phillip Sousa, and Al Jolson. It was a silent movie theater until the building was condemned in 1920. It sat vacant for the next 20 years and then reopened in 1940 as a museum. In the 1970s it was restored and opened as a theater and concert venue. Storey County purchased the property in 2017, and the facility continues as a successful performing arts center. The first photo is dated 1933.
