Virginia City

Virginia City is a former mining settlement in Storey County, Nevada, built along a mountainside in the American West. Wooden storefronts line the main street while nineteenth-century structures climb the steep hillside above.

Silver deposits discovered in 1859 brought thousands of prospectors to this remote mountain location within a few years. Mining continued through the early 1940s, though most residents left during the economic downturn of the 1870s.

Mark Twain started his writing career at the Territorial Enterprise newspaper office, which remains preserved within the town's historic district.

Visitors can walk along the main street and explore several preserved structures from the mining era. The wooden boardwalks and steep side streets require sturdy shoes, especially on windy days at high elevation.

Below the streets run old shafts and tunnels dug during the height of mining operations. Some of these underground passages sit directly beneath present-day shops and homes.

Location: Storey County

Inception: 1859

Elevation above the sea: 1,874 m

Website: https://visitvirginiacitynv.com

GPS coordinates: 39.31028,-119.64944

Latest update: December 4, 2025 23:00