A Short History of Virginia City A Short History of Virginia City

A Short History of Virginia City

    • $21.99
    • $21.99

Publisher Description

Founded in 1859, Virginia City quickly became world famous for its extraordinary prosperity. Over the next two decades, the mines of “the Richest City on Earth” yielded millions in gold and silver. The newly wealthy built mansions and churches, opera houses and schools, with furniture, fashions, and entertainment imported from Europe and the Far East. Here young Samuel Clemens, reporting for the Territorial Enterprise in 1863, first called himself Mark Twain. At its height Virginia City was a magnet for immigrants and the world leader in technological innovations in mining.

The city’s story did not end when the Comstock Lode played out. Beginning in the 1930s, bohemian artists, literati, and tourists were intrigued by this remnant of the Old West. The leader of Manhattan’s café society, Lucius Beebe, moved here and relaunched the Territorial Enterprise in 1950. Television’s most popular western from 1959 to 1973, Bonanza, located its fictional Ponderosa Ranch nearby. In the summer of 1965, a handful of Bay Area musicians, including Big Brother and the Holding Company, performed at the Red Dog Saloon and launched psychedelic rock, part of the inspiration for a defining decade of youth culture. Today it is both a National Historic Landmark District and a living community. Visitors come to enjoy its saloons and restaurants, admire its architecture, and learn from its museums and exhibits. A Short History of Virginia City will enhance their experience and will also be enjoyed by anyone interested in the history of Nevada, mining, and the Old West.

• Includes an illustrated walking tour describing more than thirty buildings and sites

GENRE
History
RELEASED
2014
September 15
LANGUAGE
EN
English
LENGTH
168
Pages
PUBLISHER
University of Nevada Press
SELLER
Chicago Distribution Center
SIZE
10
MB

More Books Like This

Ghost Towns of the American West Ghost Towns of the American West
2020
Wicked Virginia City Wicked Virginia City
2020
Historic Towns of the Western States Historic Towns of the Western States
2020
Ghost Towns of New England Ghost Towns of New England
2022
Finding the Wild West: The Pacific West Finding the Wild West: The Pacific West
2022
Finding the Wild West: The Mountain West Finding the Wild West: The Mountain West
2022

More Books by Ronald M. James & Susan A. James

Uncovering Nevada's Past Uncovering Nevada's Past
2004
The Roar and the Silence The Roar and the Silence
2012
Virginia City Virginia City
2012
Comstock Women Comstock Women
1997
Monumental Lies Monumental Lies
2023
The Folklore of Cornwall The Folklore of Cornwall
2019