Virginia City, Nevada: June, 2002

Virginia City is located 23 miles south of Reno, Nevada, at an elevation of approximately 6,200 ft. It is sited on the east side of Mount Davidson (7,864 ft.) in the Virginia range of mountains. The Virginia Range is located directly east of the Washoe Valley and is 20 miles east of the magnificent Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Silver was first discovered in the Virginia City area in 1859. By 1860, Virginia City was a booming mining community, and over the years, large quantities of silver ore, worth approximately $400,000,000 in 19th Century dollars, were laboriously extracted from the mines. At its peak, Virginia City had a population of more than 30,000 people. Mark Twain was a newspaperman from 1862-1864 at the Territorial Express, a daily newspaper in Virginia City. His book, 'Roughing It,' published in 1872, contains a classic account of Virginia City during the early 1860's. The discovery of silver in Virginia City accelerated the Territory of Nevada into becoming the 36th State of the Union in 1864.

The Virginia & Truckee Railroad was put into operation in 1870. Its primary mission was to haul silver ore from the mines to be processed into pure silver at the stamp mills located 10 miles south of Virginia City on the Carson River, east of Carson City, the state capital. The US government constructed the Carson City, Nevada mint to process some of the Virginia City silver into coins of the realm; the mint was in service from 1870 to 1893. Adolph Sutro started the construction of the Sutro Tunnel in 1869 and it was completed in 1878. It is 3.8-miles in length, and was primarily built to drain the millions of gallons of hot water from the Virginia City mines that infiltrated from underground water sources.

There were more than 400 miles of tunnels and shafts excavated under the Virginia City area; the deepest mine shaft, which is still open to the ground, extends more than 3,000 ft below the surface of the earth. The miner's working conditions were very difficult. The temperature in the mines commonly reached 120º, and in some of the mines the temperature reached 160º. There was no electricity to illuminate the working areas; all lighting was by candlelight. Oxygen in the mines was limited, and fire was a constant danger. In 1873, the Yellow Jacket Mine caught on fire, and more than 25 men perished in the blaze. There was also an above ground fire in 1875 that destroyed a large portion of Virginia City. The townspeople rapidly rebuilt the destroyed buildings and the mining continued, unabated by the catastrophe, 24 hours a day. By the 1890's Virginia City had passed its peak of silver ore removal, and begun its rapid descent into the annals of illustrious mining history. Today, Virginia City has a population of approximately 500 people.

All Images and Text Copyright © by Neil Mishalov

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On Geiger Grade heading towards Virginia City. Rain storm with Reno in the distance	Geiger Grade Historical Marker	Old section of Geiger Grade

Old section of Geiger Grade	Old section of Geiger Grade	Historical Marker at Virginia City

The isolated Hebrew Cemetery	The Hebrew cemetery	The Hebrew cemetery

The only standing tombstone in the Hebrew Cemetery	Mine debris from the Sierra Nevada Mine in the background	Mine debris from the Sierra Nevada Mine

My trusty steed. Heading for Virginia City from the Hebrew Cemetery	The Masonic Cemetery	The Masonic Cemetery

The Catholic Cemetery	The Catholic Cemetery	Original wooden marker plus replica stone marker

Looking west from the Catholic Cemetery	The Catholic Cemetery	The Catholic Cemetery

The Catholic Cemetery	Looking south at Virginia City from the Catholic Cemetery	The Catholic Cemetery

Looking east at the Catholic Cemetery from the Masonic Cemetery	The Masonic Cemetery	Desert flower in the cemetery

At the Masonic Cemetery looking north at mine debris from the Union Shaft	The Masonic Cemetery	The Masonic Cemetery

The Masonic Cemetery	The Masonic Cemetery	The Masonic Cemetery

The Volunteer Fireman's Cemetery	The Volunteer Fireman's Cemetery	Looking south at Virginia City from the Fireman's Cemetery

The remnants of what I believe to be a stamp mill on Six Mile Canyon Road. Located 1 mile east of Virginia City	There were 1,000's of these somewhat large flying insects all over the area	View of Virginia City from the Combined Mine. In the center is the mine dump from the Savage Mine

View of Virginia City from the Combined Mine. In the center of the photo is the mine dump fron the Chollar and Julia Mines	View of Virginia City from the Combined Mine. In the center background is the 4th Ward Public School built in 1867	View of the Mint Mine dump from the Combined Mine

The Combined hoisting equipment	The Combined hoisting equipment	The Combined hoisting shack

Inside the Combined hoisting shack	Close-up of the Combined hoising equipment. Below this stone work is an open 3,000 ft shaft. Please be careful!	Inside the Chollar Mine

Some mining equipment in the Chollar Mine	Some mining equipment in the Chollar Mine	An example of the 4 Square supporing woodwork that was used in all of the mines. The immense quanity of lumber that was needed denuded much of Lake Tahoe

Some mining equipment in the Chollar Mine	Old Virginia & Truckee passenger station	Old house on B Street, Virginia City

Above Virginia City. Catholic Church in the distance	Above Virginia City. Catholic Church in the distance	Above Virginia City. Brick hospital in the distance

Mine entrance above Virginia City	Above Virginia City. Episcopal and Catholic Churchs in the distance	Above Virginia City, looking west

Above Virginia City, looking north. Cemeteries in the center of the picture	The East Yellow Jacket mine	Mine remnants at Silver City

Mine remnants at Silver City	Mine remnants at Silver City	Mine remnants at Silver City

Mine remnants at Silver City	Devil's Gate Historical Marker	Devil's Gate from the south looking north.

Devil's Gate from the north looking south. There was a toll house at this location to collect a fee from men and material heading to or from Virginia City	Virginia & Truckee Railroad logo	Train ride on the V&T line from Virginia City to Gold Hill and back. Distance:2 miles round trip

Heading under the truck route. Originally this was tunnel #5	Going under the old ore dumper woodwork of the East Yellow Jacket Mine	Heading towards tunnel # 4

About to enter tunnel # 4	Bypassing the collapsed tunnel # 3	Train crossing the road in Gold Hill

Gold Hill Train Station	Heading back to Virginia City. Bypassing collapsed tunnel # 3	Train cars waiting to be refurbished

Panoramic view of Gold Hill diggings	Open pit mine in Gold Hill. This mine was started in the 1980's when the price of gold was at $800 per ounce	Open pit mine in Gold Hill. This mine was started in the 1980's when the price of gold was at $800 per ounce

East Yellow Jacket mine	Silver City with the original road on the left (Very steep with up to a 15% grade in sections) and truck road on the right. Both roads go to Virginia City	The Ward Mine debris dump

Silver City	Osbiston Shaft Mine dump in Virginia City	4th Ward School from the truck road

Saint Mary in the Mountains Catholic Church. 1876	Saint Mary in the Mountains Catholic Church. 1876	Saint Marys in the Mountains Catholic Church. 1876

Virginia City Court House. Notice that the figure representing justice is not blindfolded. 1876	Saint Johns Episcopal Church. 1876	4th Ward Public School. 1867

1980's open pit mine across from 4th Ward School	Virginia City Miners Union Hall	C Street, Virginia City

	A sign at a self storage facility on Highway 50, just east of Carson City

Christian Lopez is a native of Reno, Nevada. He is a marvelous songwriter, a great musician, and he has an CD of songs available. Four of the songs on the album are about Virginia City, Nevada, and they are both sweet and sorrowful. Christian has generously allowed this site to feature a song from his album. The song is titled "One Fine Spring Day," and you can listen to the entire song by clicking: ONE FINE SPRING DAY . You can buy the Christian Lopez CD "Down By The Drowning Creek" by going to his web site CHRISTIAN LOPEZ.COM

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