Virginia City, Montana - A Lively Ghost Town

Virginia City, Montana

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Virginia City is now one of the most preserved “ghost towns” in the American West, thanks to the efforts of Charles and Sue Bovey. Mr. Bovey, a Montana rancher and state legislator, along with his wife, Sue, first visited Virginia City in 1944. Though suffering from neglect and weather, the town still stood largely intact thanks to the absence of major fires and later development.

Captivated by the historic city, the Boveys began to raise money for preservation, collected artifacts, bought buildings which they preserved, and reconstructed others which had been destroyed. Nevada City, which had been almost totally obliterated by dredge mining, was entirely rebuilt.

Dozens of historic buildings line the main street of

Virginia City, July, 2008, Kathy Weiser.

This image available for photographic prints and

downloads HERE!

By 1978 the couple owned one-third of the town, but in the same year Charlie Bovey passed away. His wife, Sue, died in 1988. Just one year later, many of the Bovey-owned properties were placed up for sale.

In 1997 the Montana Legislature voted to purchase the Bovey properties in both Virginia City and Nevada City, along with the majority of the artifacts. Today, the state owns about half of the historic structures in Virginia City and all of the community of Nevada City. The Montana Heritage Commission was formed to manage the properties.

In addition to the more than 200 historic buildings that are preserved for tourists, Virginia City offers a number of events for visitors that include the Heritage Days & Victorian Ball in August, the Virginia City Players’ variety productions at the Opera House, a narrow-gauge railroad, and the Brewery Follies at Montana's first brewery. Also provided for the some 70,000 visitors who come to Virginia City each year, are museums, shops, restaurants and accommodations.

Virginia City today boasts a population of some 150 year-round residents and about 300 summer residents. One of the major gateways to Yellowstone National Park, Virginia City is located 85 miles to the west of Yellowstone.

Virginia City's historic 1876 courthouse, Today, it still serves as the county

seat for Madison County. Kathy Weiser, July, 2008.

This image available for photographic prints and downloads HERE!

Contact Information:

Montana Heritage Commission

300 W. Wallace St, upstairs
Virginia City, Montana 59755

406-843-5247

Virginia City Chamber of Commerce

P.O. Box 218

Virginia City, Montana 59755

800-829-2969

The Gilbert Brewery Complex, which now serves as the Brewery Follies Theatre, was established in 1863. The buildings to the right was a tourist court called Daylight Village, built to look like an old town. July, 2008, Kathy Weiser.

This image available for photographic prints and

downloads HERE!

Virginia City's first cemetery, referred to as Boot Hill,

contains the graves of five "road agents" hanged by Montana Vigilantes in 1864. July, 2008, Kathy Weiser.

This image available for photographic prints and

downloads HERE!

Also See:

Bannack - From Gold to Ghosts

Ghost Town Ghosts in Bannack, Montana

Henry Plummer - Sheriff Meets A Noose

Nevada City - Outdoor History Museum

Book your lodging right HERE online!

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From the Rocky Mountain General Store

Old West Books - Legends of America and the Rocky Mountain General Store has collected a number of Old West books for our frontier enthusiasts. For many of these, we have only one available. To see this varied collection, click HERE!