Virginia City - "Where Montana History Lives"

Virginia City street

There are ghost towns and then there are ghost towns.  Some old mining towns simply yield to Nature and dissolve back into the ground and live on as only a memory – a true ghost of the past, such as Bean, Pioneer and Taft.  Others find more attention and have been actively preserved and now stand as a vacant testament to Glory Days gone by – towns such as Bannack and Garnet.  And then there is Virginia City (and its sister, Nevada City, just down the road) – living in two worlds – the “then” and the “now”.  These are real, still active towns, but with a preserved, historic “ghost town” core.  Indeed, Virginia City is still the seat of Madison County.

Virginia City boardwalkIf you are like me, interested in history and the past, Virginia City is quite fascinating and I always enjoy the chance to stop for awhile on my travels through the area.  Now a National Historic Landmark, the town is open for exploration as an “open air museum”.  Down Main Street, there is a mixture of old, preserved buildings in their original condition with “Old West” period displays inside. Information plaques about a particular building’s past stand next to active restaurants, gift shops, and other businesses and helps add context to the vibe of the town as a whole.

Virginia City arose as the settlement that supported the Alder Gulch gold rush of 1863.  It started off life as “Verina”, the name of the first and only First Lady of the Confederate States.  However, upon registration, a Connecticut judge changed the name to Virginia City.  It served as the Territorial capitol for 10 years until 1875, wresting it from Bannack in 1865.

Virginia City quickly became a boomtown of thousands of prospectors and fortune seekers. The remoteness of the region was without law enforcement or a justice system.  This gave rise to serious criminal activity, especially robbery and murder along the trails and roads of the region. “Road agents”, as they were known, were ultimately responsible for up to 100 deaths in the region in 1863 and 1864. This resulted in the formation of the “Vigilance Committee of Alder Gulch” and the infamous Montana Vigilantes. Up to 15 road agents were hanged by the vigilantes in December 1863 and January 1864, including the sheriff of Bannack and the alleged leader of the road agent gang, Henry Plummer.  Perhaps these incidents had something to do with the moving of the capitol from Bannack to Virginia City.

Virginia City diorama

With the gold all played out, the town was in serious decline by the 1940s, including Main Street. That’s when Charles and Sue Bovey began buying the town and putting much needed maintenance into failing structures to save this unique window into Montana’s past.  By the 50’s it was turning around again and becoming a ghost town tourist destination.  It has since been designated a National Historic Landmark and most of “downtown” is now owned by the Montana state government.  Currently, the Montana Heritage Commission oversees the Historic District of Virginia City and Nevada City. The Commission operates gold panning, the Nevada City Music Hall and Museum, and the Alder Gulch Railroad, a narrow gauge passenger line that runs between the two “cities”.

Times were lively in old Virginia City.  Apart from the hangings, it boasted the first newspaper and public school in Montana Territory.  Several “interesting” figures have graced its streets, including a young Calamity Jane, who would later return to Montana after the death of Wild Bill Hickok.  

Sarah BickfordThere was also the iconic Montana businesswoman, Sarah Bickford.  She was born a slave in Jonesborough, Tennessee in 1852.  At the age of 20, she moved to Virginia City.  By the time she died in 1931,  2 husbands and 7 children later, she owned the water company, the New York City bakery and restaurant in town, several city lots, mining claims, and a small farm.  Her inspiring life has left an indelible mark on Montana History.  More information on this remarkable woman can be found at: www.sarahbickford.org/

Stroll down the boardwalks of Main Street at your own pace – there is much to see and imagine here.  When open, you can step inside many of the restored buildings and see how life was.  Stores like the barber shop, pharmacy, general store, livery stable, millinery shop, cobbler, etc., often with manikins dressed in period clothes and the shops stocked with authentic period merchandise.  Along the river are huge piles of riverbed, evidence of the massive dredging that took place there.  One of these dredges, now a rusting ghost itself, can be seen in neighboring Nevada City.  Yes, in Virginia City, its easy to step back in time and see how “Montana History Lives”.  Slow down and take some time to wander through, pardner – you’ll be glad you did!

More information can be found on the city’s website.
 

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Leave a Comment Here

Melanie Novark (not verified) , Sun, 12/20/2020 - 13:48
My great, great grandfather moved to Virginia City around the same time Lincoln was Assassinated and later on went back to England and brought a wife with him.
His first born, my great grandfather was born in Virginia City, in 1870.
Ask far as I know the last member of family to leave there was Bobby Gohn and he’s in the cemetery there with every one else..
My Great, Great Grandfather started the first Free Masons Group there, which till National Treasure, the movie, no one talked about that group, very much, even though I have met members of that group, in the past.
They are pretty unknown.
Dave Nordlund (not verified) , Mon, 01/03/2022 - 01:25
I'm originally from Billings MT and grew up with the Gohn family there, through schools and the neighborhood. I am 78 now but when I married in 1966 Jim Gohn was my best man and when he married I was his best man. He told me a time or two about his great grandfather being the mayor of Virginia City. Would that have been the 'Bobby' you speak of? I love that wild west town and stop there many times on travels over the years. Love to hear the stories about the people of Virginia City! Next time there I plan on visiting the cemetery.
Anonymous (not verified) , Tue, 12/29/2020 - 22:19
I remember Bobby Gohn. Blind from a mining accident but ran a bar just fine. You could go in there and ask for a candy bar and he'd feel for the spot and give you exactly what you ordered.
Billie Musselm… (not verified) , Thu, 01/07/2021 - 18:39
My great great grandfather came to VC in 1864. A couple years later bought a ranch in Deer Lodge. Raised Saddlebreds and shipped them to California.
Perry Allen (not verified) , Fri, 09/10/2021 - 12:14
Worked there in the mid 70’s. Was a fun town to live in.
Vicki Dirschl (not verified) , Sun, 01/02/2022 - 10:48
When the kids were small we visited Virginia City & Nevada City, Amazing little towns.. So much history.. I always kept a tighht reign on my children when we went any place.. They had to hold each others hands. I looked down and my 4 year old was not there. I saw a crowd of people and my son was in front of the player piano just mesmerized.. We noticed people had picked up the tools by the look of the handles & put back in place. Very respected.. This was a wonderful place to visit.. We appreciated the authenticity of both towns..
Jim Cleary (not verified) , Tue, 10/10/2023 - 22:26
Cute story alright !
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