Virginia City (Nevada)

Virginia City is a small town south of Reno on highway 341, in Storey County, Western Nevada.

Understand

Virginia City was a boomtown that sprung up around the 1859 discovery of massive silver deposits. At its peak, the city had a population of around 25,000 and was one of the most important cities in the American west. This was followed by a quick decline however, as silver deposits became exhausted starting in the 1880s. Today, Virginia city is a small town of about 1,000 residents that has managed to maintain much of its 19th-century "Old West" feel. It is a National Historic Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Visitor information

Get in

By road

From Reno: Take highway 395 south out of Reno and continue on to 341 south over the Geiger Grade.

By train

The V&T Railway offers same day round trip rides from Carson City to Virgnia City over the summer and near Christmas.

Get around

Most everything is on C Street, which is the main street through town. It is easy to walk from one end to the other in less than an hour. Parking is available along C street and some side streets, but it may fill up if you don't arrive early enough. The pay parking lots charge $10 for the day.

See
  • People dressed in vintage 70's clothes (that would be the 1870s). They hang out at some of the saloons.
  • 🌍 Silver Terrace Cemetery, North E Street (at Carson Street). Old cemetery with interesting headstones. Worth a visit. 

Museums

Virginia City has many different museums (a full list can be found here).

Further afield

Do
  • Wander C Street
  • Take a mine tour: there are several operators offering guided excursions into the mines beneath the city.
  • Watch the Camel races.

Gambling

If you win...

Chances are that, if you win it big in Virginia City or Dayton and you are not a U.S. citizen your winnings will be subject to a 30% withholding tax from the Internal Revenue Service. That $10,000 slot winning can dwindle quite quickly if that is taken off the top. Not to worry though you can reclaim your gambling winnings tax through a 1042-S form. You should get this from the casino so don't lose it: it is your starting ticket to getting your gambling winnings back.

There are some gambling opportunities at the saloons.

Further afield

Buy

There are lots of gift shops on C Street. The quality ranges from good to garbage.

Eat

At the Saloons

  • 🌍 Cafe Del Rio, 394 C St (Southern end of C St.), ☏ +1 775 847-5151. A southwest spin on Mexican fare. Sunday brunch available. 

Drink

Outdoor consumption of alcohol is tolerated.

Sleep

Go next


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