Virginia City, Nevada: A Trip to America's Old West

Virginia City, Nevada, looks like a place that was torn straight out of the pages of America’s legendary Old West.

Established as a silver and gold mining town more than 150 years ago by immigrants from around the world looking to make their fortunes, so much of Virginia City remains from that historic era that it can feel like walking onto an expansive Hollywood movie set.

Full of 19th century saloons, hotels, restaurants, rustic homes, mansions, an opera house, haunted houses and plenty of mines to visit, Virginia City offers a trip to a period of time that still fires the imagination of so many people today.

Samuel Clemens was so inspired by Virginia City that this is where he began his writing career and changed his name to Mark Twain.

ChristoExplore

Christopher Hines
Executive Producer

Adventurer, explorer, connoisseur, journalist, writer and filmmaker experiencing, enjoying and sharing the discovery of interesting places and intriguing people around the world.

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I used to live in Virginia City as a young teenager in the early 80's. I hated it back then but I would absolutely love to be back living there again as I would truly appreciate it now! My 76 year old mother currently lives on gold hill and my step father has the house in Virginia City, my brothers ashes are scattered on the mountain above VC near the V and my 43 year old sister and her children also reside in VC still. I'm living in SC now.

[magdalenahristova]

I love stories about the Wild West era, I love also Mark Twain, great literature, great times. Thank you for this trip

[kellycoleman]

I took my elderly parents to Reno for my dad’s annual (WW2) Marine reunion several years ago. We toured Virginia City as part of the reunion and I enjoyed it. I bought an uncirculated Morgan silver dollar at the old newspaper office where Mark Twain first worked. It was minted at the nearby Carson City mint, which we also visited. The silver in the coin came from the once rich Comstock lode adjacent to Virginia City.

[TrentTheTraveler]

Incredible video dude. You deserve more views!

[musik_non_stop]

I come here once a year on my motorcycle. Incredible place and preserved!!!

[thomasludwig]

Fantastic video. Very interesting information and narrated so well. Makes me want to plan a visit there.

[Belinda-lmol]

I grew up in this area my grandmother played piano in Virginia city for many years I get very homesick for it a very amazing place very lucky to have had that experience

[denicerenee]

Driving up to Virginia City it's mind-boggling thinking of the people back the old west with their wagons bringing everything up that high elevation.

[JrizzTV]

I had family that lived right by Virginia city had great memories at their house and visiting Virginia city.

[socalgirl]

From San Diego but we had a second house in Tahoe we went to a lot and made lots of trips to Virginia City. I remember a nice couple in the early 80’s that had an ice cream shop. Going to Tahoe for my dieters 60th in a few weeks and have to make the trip there especially after seeing your video. Thanks !

[allanmoore]

Excellent video with great narration. Thanks.

[tocororo]

Had to study about Virginia City in a History of Nevada course at UNLV. I need to visit there. Thanks for the video. 👍🏼 Home means Nevada 💙

[silverstreamthecreator]

I live in Carson city and we love going up to VC for anything and everything, truly is like stepping back in time but if you ever visit spend a day in Tahoe! It’s one of the most gorgeous lakes in the world

[joesteele]

Outstanding video of Virginia City Nevada. Enjoyed the history and what these present residents do to maintain it's history
We live in Nevada and intend to visit here late summer.

[bnilo]

Great video! Thank you for this. I spent a day there back in the early 90's with my little brother. Had lunch at the Bucket of Blood. Just a fantastic memory now. Miss you little bro!

[dannyred]

Thanks, if you like history of the west this is a good place to visit.

[LadyKheperaANKH]

😊 I live in Carson City, Nevada..Virginia Cuty is not far...Was there last year on Halloween ❤

[_DeMonte]

I’m just now stumbling across this awesome work of art you guys brought to us. Truly a remarkable city. I’m moving to New Mexico in May and hope to come visit this place soon. Thank you for sharing this piece of history with us.

[exopatrida]

Very beautiful video ! I had obviously already heard of Virginia City but I never had the time to go there. Your country is so gigantic that I never had the chance or time to stop there, including when in 2013 I visited and studied the history of the ghost town of Bodie, near Mono Lake, 200 kilometers further south.
I knew of course that a certain Samuel Langhorne Clemens, known as Mark Twain, the king of the novel had lived there! “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” and “Tom Sawyer Abroad” rocked my young childhood and are undoubtedly at the origin of my passion for the American West! French born in Paris, holder of a master's degree in American History, I focused my academic work on the period covering the American Revolution until the period of "Manifest Destiny". I live in Canada for several years and two days ago, while talking with a friend who knows the region well having worked for a mining company in Carson City, this one encouraged me to visit the Mark Twain town!
Now retired, during my next trip to SF I will go to Virginia City where the immense career of the first great writer west of the Mississippi began, the one whose novels unconsciously gave an unexpected meaning to my life !

[dennisyoung]

The Mines are the place to go, here.

Hope to go to a place I read about in my teens…