Entering Town

November 8, 1952. This is from an overlook at the entrance to town. The big building on the left is the Fourth Ward School, built in 1876 after most of the town burned to the ground. It was built to house a thousand students, but by the time the last class graduated in 1936, the entire population of the town was barely that much. By the time Cushman came through town it was abandoned and rotting.

The building to the right with all the chimneys is the Chollar Mansion, built in the 1860s as the head office of the Chollar Mine. It was orignilly located right at the entrance to the mine. but after a few years they were shocked to discover that the house was sinking into the gound. So they dismantled it, moved it a few blocks, and rebuilt it here.

The house in the foreground looks like it would blow over in a stiff breeze. It’s also covered in oh-so-chic corrugated steel siding.

June 19, 2004. The overlook this picture was taken from is home to the Virginia City Motel. This is the view you’d get out of the bathroom window. The house in the foreground is still standing. It even got new siding and a fresh coat of paint, although it looks boarded up. They apparently used the corrugated steel to add on to their barn.

The Fourth Ward School is looking a lot better. About 20 years ago a group of people got together to try to save it before it crumbled into dust. It’s been renovated, earthquake retrofitted, and given a snazzy new coat of paint. Its 14 rooms now house a museum of Virginia City history. The Chollar Mansion also has been fixed up. It now serves as a bed and breakfast.