Virginia City to Carson City.
The Silver State. The first major discovery of silver ore in the United States was in 1859, in what became to be called the Comstock Lode in the Virginia Range in Nevada (then western Utah Territory). The mining boomtown was Virginia City (an easy drive from Reno). At the city’s peak of population in the mid-1870s, it had an estimated 30,000 residents and was called the richest city in America. 150 saloons according to some histories. The output of the silver mines eventually declined, and so did Virginia City. As of the 2010 Census the population of the city was about 850.
It is said that the stupendous wealth of Virginia City was what actually built San Francisco.
It was there in February 1863 that a writer named Samuel Clemens (then a reporter on the local Territorial Enterprise newspaper) first used his nom de plume Mark Twain. Clemens lived in Virginia City and wrote for the Enterprise from late fall 1862 until May 1864. He returned a few times thereafter.
When I was in Reno last year I did a day trip to Virginia City. The first grouping in this set is from then. It’s a little lost in time, as you can see. Most of the old buildings there date back to the 19th-century mining boom. Tourism seems to be the biggest industry there these days.
There were some real characters walking around the day I was there (a number in period dress). Some were armed (it is an open-carry state) which I have to say is a little unnerving for some visitors.
It was the annual Virginia City Rocky Mountain Oyster Fest. Prairie oysters (as they are called in Canada) or huevos de toros (what they are called in Mexico) are not actually oysters. The Spanish word “toros” (bulls) is your clue. If you still don’t know, look it up. No thanks. I passed. I will leave that alleged delicacy to others with a stronger stomach.
Now back to 2017. On the return drive earlier this year I left Lake Tahoe and drove over Spooner Summit – 7,146 ft. (2,178 m) – to Carson City along the southern (Pioneer) route of the Lincoln Highway (now U.S. 50) to my second Nevada stop after the overnight in Incline Village: Carson City. The first two photos were taken on the morning drive to Carson City.
It’s the capital of the US state of Nevada and named after the mountain man Kit Carson. Some may remember my Taos post on the Route 66 drive westward which had some pics of Carson’s house and grave there.
Carson City’s population grew along with Virginia City’s after the discovery of the silver. Unlike Virginia City it mostly continued to thrive after the Comstock Lode began to peter out.
At one point it was the smallest capital city in the US but not anymore (starting with the smallest, Montpelier VT, Carson City is now Number 20). There are a few shots of the capitol and grounds in this set. That’s Kit Carson himself on the horse in the one statue.
Nearby is the Governor’s Mansion and the historic district around it with some fine old houses and churches.
The downtown itself is not much to write home about. The picture to the left above is Carson City. No fancy casinos there. It makes Reno look like Vegas. I did not linger there that morning. I still had some serious driving ahead of me that day.
There is a Lincoln bust and Lincoln painting at the capitol in Carson City but I did not go inside – “the Loneliest Road in America” (US 50 across Nevada) awaited me.
My goal for the day was Ely, Nevada, about 320 miles away, via the Loneliest Road – see next post.
