Virginia City

From Ghost Hunts and Walking Tours to Museums, Mines and More

Today, Virginia City is home to about 1,000 residents and some of the most beautifully preserved homes, churches, saloons, cemeteries, and other historic structures in the West—a claim to fame that earned the entire town a spot on the National Register of Historic Places. History buffs fill days museum-hopping, bargain hunters delight at amazing antique and curio shops, and revelers go all out in authentic saloons, especially after a day of wild weekend events.

Historical tours are plentiful—on foot or rail, self-guided or expert-led, around town or in a mine, or even in a haunted building in what some experts claim is the most paranormally active town in the U.S. But no visit to ol’ VC is complete without a ride on the ol’ V&T railroad. Simply put, the Virginia & Truckee Railroad is the most famous of all American Short Line railroads. Construction began in 1869 and over the next 74 years, this busy railroad hauled millions of dollars in gold and silver ore from the mines deep below the city, through brilliantly-built tunnels, and down the mountain. Today, you can hop aboard the ornate, century-old, open- and closed-passenger cars for a truly scenic ride up to neighboring Gold Hill and back, chugging through 17 historic mine sites along the way. 

Museum Madness on the Comstock

In a town where the National Park Service has designated the entire place a National Historic Landmark, you’d expect to find some museum action around. You’d be right, to the tune of around 17 such institutions. 

Did you know Mark Twain was “born” here? That famous one-time Nevadan caused plenty of in-print mischief with Virginia City’s Territorial Enterprise, and gave what many consider his first live show at Piper’s Opera House, which also hosted Buffalo Bill, Al Jolson, and countless other famous performers in its now-tourable hall, still home to concerts, performances, and other special events.

One of our favorite places to get schooled is the Historic Fourth Ward School Museum & Archives, which houses some of the best exhibits on Virginia City history. Kids of all ages love the State Fireman’s Museum for its original gear and vintage vehicles, as well as the artifact-packed The Way It Was Museum. Meanwhile, history and contemporary art collide across seven rotating galleries at the old-hospital-turned-gallery known as St. Mary’s Art Center. And if the kids are acting up, scare ‘em straight (and learn ‘em a thing or two) at the photo-rich Courthouse Slammer & County Museum. 

Virginia City Mine Tours

Virginia City’s underground legacy can still be glimpsed today, in the mines that made it all happen. In just 25 minutes, the Ponderosa Mine Tour shows you its complete underground mine workings—tunnels, crosscuts, winzes, and shafts, in addition to over 300 pieces of antique mining equipment. Up the road at the Chollar Mine, where miners carted out some $17 million in gold and silver, a 30-minute guided tour takes visitors on a 400-foot level walk to check out the original square-set timbering, silver ore, and more. 

Back up on the surface, if you’re still digging it, check out the Comstock Gold Mill and get a “lode” of how gold was processed from ore to recovery. After all these years, all that wooden and metal machinery is still fully operational. And trust us, you won’t soon forget the soundtrack to this place—or the characters who run it.  

Make sure to cruise a few minutes down the hill to the storied Gold Hill Hotel & Saloon—the oldest hotel in Nevada. Hit up the still-serving Sagebrush Saloon, learn about one of the deadliest mining accidents in U.S. history, or stay the night and see if resident ghost Rosie pays you a visit.

Or crank it up with a visit to the Washoe Club & Haunted Museum, a towering brick building in the heart of bustling Historic C Street that is believed to be one of the most haunted locations in the West. The property has been extensively featured on many ghost-hunting television shows, including Travel Channel’s Ghost Adventures, and SyFy’s Ghost Hunters. A legitimately creepy crypt and museum dedicated to the mystery of the building lends some serious spook cred to the property’s ghostly claims. 

Ghost Tours & Good Ol’ “Haunts”

For a spookier perspective, hop on one a couple different Virginia City ghost tours Virginia City’s “Bats in the Belfry” walking ghost tour focuses on the paranormal, investigating multiple old homes and businesses, along with a narrative that will chill you to the bone. This walking tour will take you through the Silver Queen Hotel, Mackay Mansion, and other historic haunts, while the local guide tells tales of the locations.

Although not known for being haunted, also worth a stop is the Silver Terrace Cemetery. Far from spooky, this beautifully-situated place of rest is full of elaborate headstones, statues, and fascinating epitaphs that highlight the opulence of Victorian life—and afterlife—in Virginia City. And, located on the north end of town, it makes a great “final destination” on your way back down to Reno.

Virginia City Restaurants & Bars

Back in the bonanza days, Virginia City restaurants and saloons numbered in the hundreds. Today’s portion is a tad smaller, but still plenty full of fantastic flavors. For one, there aren’t many towns where you can legitimately go on a “saloon crawl,” but Virginia City’s Historic C Street makes it easy, with thirteen of them within sipping distance of each other.

Many Virginia City saloons still rock their authentic Old West auras (and aesthetics), starting with the (in)famous Bucket of Blood Saloon, built in 1875, where regulars don Victorian garb and dance to the house band, David John & the Comstock Cowboys in a period-perfect room adorned with original art and historical ephemera. Original chandeliers light up the 1862-constructed Washoe Club, the oldest (and possibly most haunted) saloon in Virginia City and the preferred hideaway for a troop of miners-turned-magnates who dubbed themselves the “Millionaires Club.” 

Sidle into the Silver Queen to pay homage to the saloon’s eponymous and unmissable matron saint, whose dress still dazzles with 3,261 silver dollars—a nod to how many feet down the Combination Mine Shaft goes—and 28 twenty-buck gold pieces. Get a taste of VC at the Virginia City Brewery & Tap House, and by ordering cocktails with the town’s own spirit, Cemetery Gin.

If all that saloon-crawling earns you an appetite, hit up the Virginia City Jerky Co. & Smokehouse for hickory-smoked ribs, tri-tip dips, house-made chili-mac, and more. Grab a slice of pizza and rock ‘n’ roll history at the Red Dog Saloon, where live bands follow in the foot-taps of Janis Joplin, the Grateful Dead, and other music legends. And for tasty Mexican favorites with some lively ambience, Café Del Rio may just steal your corazon.

Satisfy your sweet tooth at Red’s Old Fashioned Candies with delectable fudges, brittles, and chocolates, or Grandma’s Fudge Factory, where candy makers still churn fudge the old-fashioned way, right before your eyes. For AM urges, cruise to Canvas Café and help yourself to a breakfast benedict, a homemade pastry, or a piece of locally made art off the wall. And for all things caffeinated, roll into The Roasting House for espresso, gluten-free goodies, and, as the name implies, house-roasted coffee.