Old West Towns: Virginia City & Nevada City, Montana

Gold created Virginia City, Montana, and ensured its place in state and national history. A heroic preservation effort starting in the 1940s has kept this Old West experience alive and popular among visitors from around the world.

Overview

Virginia City is often described as a "ghost town." But in fact this historic gold boom town – the birthplace of Montana that played a crucial role in the Civil War – still booms in the summer and fall, when visitors from around the world visit to learn about life as it was lived in the Old West, to celebrate holidays and heritage, and to enjoy music festivals and arts events.

Location/Directions

Virginia City is located about 86 miles from West Yellowstone, Montana, and 66 miles from Bozeman, Montana. From West Yellowstone, head north on US 287 to Ennis, Mont., and turn left and drive 14 miles on MT 287. From Bozeman, head west out of town on US 191 to MT 84. Drive 29 miles to US 287 S to Ennis, and turn right onto MT 289 for 14 miles. For visitor information, call 775-847-4386 (4FUN) or 1-800-718-7587 (SLVR).

Hours/Seasons

Although 100 or so Montanans call Virginia City home year-round, the population swells between May and September with living history weekends, a small-town Fourth of July party, kids events and lots of music – with a few other scattered activities and events scheduled around the holidays. Historical displays open in early May and close in late September.

Fees/Cost

Visiting Virginia City is free, as are many events. Some activities – art and musical events, for example, and certain tours – carry a modest price, $5 or $10 or, occasionally, $15 or $20.

More Info

Today, Virginia City bustles again during the summer as visitors come to learn about the unique history of the area and the lives of the miners who settled the town.

The town celebrates its heritage with special events each year, such as the annual Victorian Ball in August. It's a popular venue for arts festivals and musical events – some held in historic venues such as the Virginia City Opera House – and there are a dozens of shops catering to cultural tourists. A number of Victorian-era restaurants, saloons and hotels offer places to eat, drink and spend the night, soaking up the antique atmosphere.

The Alder Gulch Short Line runs on an authentic narrow-gauge railroad to nearby Nevada City, home of the Alder Gulch Short Line Steam Railroad Museum. And word is there’s still some flakes and nuggets of gold waiting to be pulled from the historic vein.

History

The roots of Virginia City date back to 1863, when gold was discovered in nearby Alder Creek. Within a year, a town had been chartered, its population had grown to 10,000, and Virginia City became the territorial capital of Montana. In three years, $30 million in gold was pulled from Alder Gulch, a sum that grew to an estimated $120 million in subsequent decades.

Virginia City's boom years lasted until about 1875. Though gold continued to be pulled from the area, first by huge dredging machines, then by hard-rock operations, it wasn't in the huge amounts of that first decade. Small amounts of gold are still recovered today, but the main business of Virginia City now is cultural tourism.

In 1944, Charles Bovey – a farmer, businessman and state politician – visited the well-preserved and mostly undeveloped town and became fascinated by the history of the area. He and his wife, Sue Bovey, began buying up land and historic buildings to save them from the wrecking ball. Virginia City was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961. The Virginia City Preservation Alliance formed later and, with the State of Montana, helped to continue preservation efforts. Today, Virginia City is managed by the Montana Heritage Commission, which maintains the many historic structures and thousands of artifacts.