Yesterday we went to Virginia city. It is a replica of a town during the mining days. Virginia City population increased from 4,000 in 1862 to over 15,000 in 1863. It fluctuated based on the mining output. At its peak after the Big Bonanza of 1873 Virginia City had a population of over 25,000 residents and was called the richest city in America. By 1879, the mines began to play out and the population started to decline. Because so much of the money came from San Francisco interests it was heralded as the sophisticated interior partner of San Francisco. The early Virginia City settlers were in large part the backwash from San Francisco and the California Gold Rush, ten years before.

The motto for Virginia City is “Step back in time.” The majority of the store owners dress in period costumes and are fairly knowledgeable of the old-time city. We went to the bucket of blood where Fred was able to get a photo of some of his chipping buddies. We saw the Silver Queen, famous for a painting of a woman wearing a dress of silver dollars. If you all will recall the story of how the red-light district got its name, we went to the red-light museum where we got a picture of one huge red light. Although we did not go to the museum there is a Mark Twain museum and in it is the toilet used by Samuel Clemens AKA Mark Twain. He was a reporter for the Enterprise in the 1880s. One of those little know facts.

The whole town is period and well worth the trip if you happen to be in the area. One note of interest, we did not go to the cemetery however they do have Virginia City gin, the tag line to the gin is “It will embalm you while you are still breathing.”

I do have one point of contention for you many naysayers regarding not losing the combination to our lock in Lovelock. Seriously!!!!! Come on you guys we will be celebrating 39 years in August. I think we are safe.