This Small Nevada Town Has The Best Downtown
Twenty miles south of Reno, the Old West mining town of Virginia City is an iconic fixture of Nevada’s past. Backed by the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the entire town is a remarkable example of historic preservation. However, its downtown sets itself apart. Teeming with Victorian mansions, Old West architecture, and a plethora of fascinating 19th-century attractions, downtown Virginia City is easily one of the coolest districts in the United States. Whether visiting its authentic saloons, spending the night in a haunted hotel, or watching an outlaw gunfight, this small Nevada town truly has the best downtown.
A Town That Struck Silver
Before its days as a Wild West boomtown, Virginia City was a modest mining camp. Its puzzling name arose around this time, when local prospector and Virginia native James Fennimore drunkenly declared the camp “Ol’ Virginny Town.” While this quirky local legend may well be a story, it made for a good one, and the name stuck.
In 1859, massive silver deposits known as the Comstock Lode were discovered in nearby Mount Davidson. As if overnight, the once-meager camp boomed to life, flooding with miners, merchants, businessmen, and fortune seekers. By the time Congress established the Nevada Territory in 1861, over three-fourths of its population lived in Virginia City. The fast-growing town even attracted famous names like Mark Twain, who first used the iconic pen name reporting for its newspaper, the Territorial Enterprise.
From Ghost Town To Tourist Hub
Virginia City peaked in the 1870s, with 25,000 residents and over 100 saloons. But like most boomtowns, a bust was in its wake. After a disastrous fire destroyed much of Virginia City in 1875, residents were forced to rebuild. By the 1880s, its silver mines had also begun to dwindle, leading to a significant decline in its population. Luckily, the few loyal locals that remained had hope for their spirited town.
While Virginia City’s mining bonanza was no more, small-scale mining persisted. When the price of gold skyrocketed in the 1930s, the near-ghost town raised funds to pave its main streets. By shifting its economy to hospitality, Virginia City was able to revive itself, slowly but surely. Preservation became its greatest blessing, drawing tourists to the surviving 19th-century businesses and grand Victorian mansions. Today, now a national historic district, tourism is Virginia City’s greatest pride. The downtown that once burnt down is now a vibrant time capsule, drawing over 2 million visitors annually.
A Main Street Frozen In Time
Historic C Street is the heart and soul of downtown Virginia City. Aside from its parked cars and updated roads, walking through the historic stretch truly feels like stepping back in time. Most of its buildings were built shortly after the Great Fire of 1875, giving the strip its signature Wild West character. Gas street lamps, swinging saloon doors, second-story balconies, and wood-plank sidewalks add to this authenticity. As for the businesses themselves, you’ll find an eclectic mix of 19th-century fun, from old-timey photo studios to saloons fit for a cowboy.
Best Things To See And Do On C Street
Wine Or Dine In An Authentic Saloon
If you’ve ever dreamt of moseying through swinging doors to an ice-cold sarsaparilla, C Street is the best place to live out your Wild West fantasies. The road is lined with too many saloons to name, each offering its own distinct vibe. The Ponderosa Saloon has your classic watering hole atmosphere, serving great drinks and live music in a 19th-century building. It offers underground mine tours right behind the bar and also showcases a walk-in bank vault from 1864.
For that rough-and-tough cowboy atmosphere, the Bucket of Blood Saloon is another favorite, set in a building built in 1876. Alternatively, the Red Dog Saloon offers a more restaurant-like atmosphere. Mixing old and new, it pairs a 19th-century setting with a modern American menu, making it a great option for families. As for adult-only travelers, the Mark Twain Saloon is a 24-hour bar and gambling hall. Built in 1863, it is one of the rare downtown buildings to survive Virginia City’s fire of 1875.
Catch A Virginia City Gunfight Show
No C Street visit would be complete without watching a Wild West stand-off. From May through September, the Virginia City Outlaws perform daily Gunfight Shows at their Western amphitheater. The crowd-pleasing performances are jam-packed with suspense, comedy, history, and edge-of-your-seat stunts. Not only is this one of the best family-friendly experiences in town, but it is by far one of the most memorable. Sit back, enjoy the show, and feel free to grab a photo with the actors after their thrilling performances.
Explore The Way It Was Museum
For a more earnest slice of Virginia City history, The Way It Was Museum is another C Street must. The rustic attraction is a treasure trove of Western heritage, showcasing mining artifacts, rare photographs, and antique maps from Virginia City’s boomtown days. Exhibits cover a range of subjects, including what life looked like for the hardworking miner, as well as thrilling tales of outlaws and saloon girls. Literature enthusiasts can also learn more about Mark Twain’s ties to the frontier town, focusing on his time at the Territorial Enterprise.
Shop For A One-Of-A-Kind Souvenir
Souvenir hunting on C Street is a delightful experience, whether window shopping or taking home an armful of bags. While some tourist towns are littered with inauthentic and overpriced stores, C Street’s souvenir shops are genuinely fun to explore and make great souvenirs to bring home and cherish a lasting memory. High-quality Western wear is a common theme, found at spots like Virginia City Hat Maker and Old Red Garter. For young visitors to Virginia City, Barrels O' Candy is a popular spot for its nostalgic treats.
Antique stores are another notable feature of C Street, from Sawdust Trails to the Virginia City Antique Mall. Alternatively, visitors of all ages love the chance to snap an old-timey portrait. C Street has countless studios offering just that, from Garters and Bloomers to Priscilla Pennyworth's Old Time Photos. Both offer 18th-century style attire and props, allowing you to pose as a gunslinger or saloon girl.
Spend The Night In A Wild West Hotel
Centered on C Street, the historic Silver Queen Hotel is Virginia City’s crown jewel. Built in 1876, this antique stay is perfect for immersing yourself in the town’s heritage. Not only is the hotel within walking distance of C Street’s best attractions, it also features its own historic charms, like the Old West Saloon. The saloon is noted for its 1870s bar counter and iconic 15-foot-tall Silver Queen, an art piece made with over 3,000 silver dollars.
Paired with these historic charms, the hotel is a popular site for paranormal believers. Local legends say the hotel staircase and Room 11 are haunted by a spirit named Rosie, an Old West-era “lady of the night.” But regardless of whether you stay the night as a history-loving skeptic or a ghost-hunting hobbyist, this historic stay is an all-around crowd pleaser.
Haunted History Off C Street
One road over from Virginia City’s main street, D Street has another downtown attraction with a ghostly reputation. The Mackay Mansion, Virginia City’s oldest building, delights history buffs and paranormal enthusiasts alike. Constructed in 1859, the Victorian-era mansion not only survived the infamous Virginia City fire but still contains its original furniture, wallpaper, chandeliers, and other extravagant features. The site is also said to be haunted by otherworldly presences, as explored on shows like Ghost Adventures and The Dead Files. Still, whether touring the site for its history or its haunts, the Mackay Mansion is a fantastic addition to any itinerary.
Visit Nevada’s Best Wild West Downtown
Whether planning a detour from Reno or devoting an entire trip to Virginia City, your time here will be more than memorable. Exploring its downtown feels like walking through a movie set, yet its authenticity makes it more akin to a life-size museum. From its rough-around-the-edge saloons to its family-friendly outlaw shows, downtown Virginia City offers the perfect mix of history, heritage, and good-old-fashioned fun.
