New subscriber, love history. My husband, and I visited Virginia in the 70s. It was not as commercialized then as it is now, no whips cracking, or jumping from the sound. Julia, lady of the night is often not included in facts. She donated money, to the town, and fire department, also helping those who who were in poor living conditions. The thing that makes me mad, is they would bury murderers, and thieves in the cemetery, she was not allowed. Yes Mark Twain was quite the character, but they don't mind using his name for business now. Many reporters used that trick back in the time, let's face it, some still are. Loved the video.
Hi , just had enough time to catch up on the latest, Sara is looking different wow nice and Thank you for the history lesson , love visiting old towns way back when it was peaceful
Good job. I only live 9 miles away and have about 40 friends there. When I first moved here, I was up there every single day. I also have property near Lovelock; thanks for that video too.
Any comments on the systemic racism that has long existed and exhibited by residents of this town. There have been literally dozens upon dozens of reviews of visitors who've commented on the overt prejudicial behavior of shopkeepers and vendors.
There are some ghost towns in Maryland which is exciting. Anyway cool video. Love this channel now and just found you today. I have a lot to catch up on though.
My mom and dad loved going from the Sacramento valley to VC for the ostrich and camel racing!🐪 They absolutely adored this town. (I hadda y-t those races, i never have seen 'em) I have visited Virginia City, that was the first time I played slot machines💰💰💰💰💰!!!!! love n miss you mom n dad
Great video of Virginia City. I remember going there in the 70’s and went inside a store with a basement. Inside was a giant skeleton maybe one of the ones from Lovelock Cave. Never saw it again and asking about it for years no one seems to know what happened to it. BTW that barbecue place at the end of town is wonderful
Spent many years at Virginia City with my Dad taking us to the Silver Stope for live jazz. I have a great appreciation for jazz. We visited places all over the city. My Dad also belonged to ECV.
Thank you for the history some of us cannot get up there , I like your video and appreciate it for you showing us teaching US history seeing history of our country God bless you both brother!
Virginia City is filled with fascinating history, but unfortunately you have to do your own homework. The town does very little to tell the history and even still (like the case with the Mark Twain museum) you have to use discernment. Apparently, the money is in ghost tours and it makes me mad that history is overshadowed by ghost stories. People rather spend money on fake stories then facts. I had relocated to Carson City and visit VC regularly, and even the locals admitted to exaggerating the ghost stuff to draw attention for money.
I've been to coming to Virginia City for many years, we love bringing our kids for a family outing anytime we are in the Tahoe area. We were last there this past April and I filmed a video as well. There's a mine cave you can go into where the bank volt is, very interesting experience. The fire truck museum is neat too. As many times as I've been there and admired that church, I didn't know you could go inside or about the museum. I've never taken the time to read all of the plaques either. The place is so rich in history. Great job filming and remembering so many details.
Have you checked out both churches? Catholic and Episcopalian. Most churches anywhere are traditionally open. Usually, if not, ask at the church office. These churches in Virginia City are tourist sites. I don't believe they have an active congregation. No priest or congregation office. If I recall, they are not original structures nor in the original site. Still really cool to visit because they were active congrgations at one point in time. Being Nevadan and grew up visiting Virginia City lends a unique appreciation. I'm going to try to get there probably fall 2020.
If you don’t believe in ghosts, you’ve never lived in a home with ghosts. I not only have but still do. My previous home had the ghost of an Army Captain from Zachary Taylor’s Union Troops. He had probably died of dysentery. We could actually see him walking around our home. He would wake us up at night when he would sit on the sides of our bed. We could feel and see the bed depress when he would sit down to check on us. He was always in uniform and would also check on each of our kids. Our youngest son would see him sitting halfway in his book case watching him sleep. Our daughter would wake up to him standing at the end of her bed. They would just tell him to leave them alone and he’d fade-away. Our current home has the spirits of the couple who built our house. They died here and she likes to make toast, because we are always smelling bread toasting and he was a heavy smoker and he will light a match then blow smoke towards me. I tell him he’s not allowed to smoke in our house and the smell goes away. Unless you have seen and felt their presence, I can understand that it would be hard to believe, but they are around every where.
If I remember right, Julia Bulette donated money toward the Virginia City fire department. Julia was murdered in 1867. There was a devastating fire in Virginia City 1875. Who knows if she had lived, and if she had continued to donate to the fire department, would there have been more fire fighters on deck in 1875?
I am an antique telephone collector and telephone historian. Virginia City (NV) had a working magneto(hand cranked)system until the 1970s. May I refer you to the You Tube video"The Last Towns to Use Operators to Connect Calls" which includes this exchange in action. Finally, conversion to dial was made and the old switchboard is displayed in a local museum. It was the last magneto service on the Bell System by a BS operating company.
Karen Utah thank you so much! I will let Sarah know that you said that because she’s a little shy at times. You really encourage me with your very nice comments! More videos are coming!!!
I went to Virginia City back in the 50s.I remember the Silver Dollar Salon had a very large picture of a woman with one of those dress with lots of petty coats. It was cover with Silver dollars. The was a cemetery and one of the head stones said : I told you I was sick.
Another enjoyed show. Do you research places prior to visiting? Being a retired history teacher I think what you and Sara do would be fun. Plus, people need more history in their lives. Thank you. I look forward to the next show.
@@jbenziggy I really love the research you do. I'm picking up gems I didn't know. I'm native Nevadan and spent my youth with family in Virginia City. Dad was ECV and loved Silver Stope live jazz.
It is February of 2022 right now. And I am going back in a search of the "History Hunters" older videos. Jeff, this really is a great and sometimes funny video. The guy with the bullwhip really got you mad! I think it would have gotten old hearing that whip 2 or 3 times but after that it would have been a bother to constantly listen to. I have never seen so much Mark Twain stuff in my life! Anyway, I really enjoyed this video and it is different from your 2022 versions of work. Not that either are bad, just different. I hope you read this Jeff.
Hah! I got you... I put that comment in to grab your attention if you actually read comments from your previous videos. Now I know. You and I have some similar likes. I have met a lot of movie stars. Starting when we were in Singapore in the nicest and oldest hotels. My mother sent me over to get an autograph from Douglas Fairbanks Jr when I was 14. And later in life as part of my job I traveled all the time and ran into a ton of famous people. Jeff I really do enjoy your work. You are a true historian of many things in California. So I learned something new tonight. You really do read your followers comments! This is great. Take care and keep up the good work!
Good ole' Virginia City rich (no pun intended) in mining history and i'm glad at the beginning of the video you used the word tourist trap. I thought it was just me being me but, some places just reek of exploitation. I guess it keeps the city alive and lets it's history of that by-gone era continue to be passed on . So I guess it is for a worthy cause in the long run. As always , enjoyed getting schooled by an interesting and talent such as your self. If you ever do the Silverton train ride , be sure to give heads up. Safe travels to you.
I agree about tourist trap. It is in the mecca state of tourist traps. Fortunately that helps preserve the history for us history buffs in the know. Most really don't know the depth of history that they are missing. I love it!
Thanks for sharing all your videos Jeff. Do a report about Bodie State Park, CA (old mining ghost town) I been there. You'll love the history about that place.
⏩ *Ha!* All these videos later, and this is *the first time* I heard you swear! 😜 LOL *Great video, however.* Cool church. Beautiful scenery. *Very colorful place!* *Population in 1870:* 30,000 residents 6 churches
A few rowdy Montana towns we worked in 60 some years ago had bars locals called "Bucket of Blood." Another called _The Night Owl_ was known to locals as "the fight all." They weren't joking either. P.S., great tour, btw. Thanks!
As a Kid I visited Virginia City a few times. I remember Church in shambles ...the Herst was sitting on a alley way in shambles .. My Dad knew a Miner there, who took us for a stroll one day in an old Mine seemed like we walked for hours and ended up directly under the City .. What amazed me was the support Timbers ...
Watching more of this video I see it's really changed from when I was last there our house was built on B Street built in 1850 on top of the old Mexican mining Mill beautiful old home we had a wood burning stove six burner in fact cooked some of the best food last time I was there they're still mining gold on a much larger scale, the other times become commercialized private privatized sort of like key West is now what a shame
I always liked Mark Twain's story about the when the the 'Washoe zephyr' would blow in Gold Hill and they'd fly boiler doors for kites with a logging chain for a tail. He could spin a yarn.
Just went back to watch this one. Thank you so much for not having sound effects in your newer vlogs. I turned the volume down when it played but made it harder to hear you speak.
Another great video jeff.its like there were more people in virginia city in the 1860s than they are today.Any chance you will take in lake tahoe where they did some location work for bonanza and also where they build the Replica of the bonanza ranch house.looking forward to your next video.
You are correct there were thousands who lived there. When you see the churches imagine houses all the way out to the hill. It spread out like that in both directions. Mining was very active too. I'm native Nevadan. Visited Virginia City often as a kid. Dad was in ECV (E Clampus Vitus). You'll see ECV on historical markers. They love history and they are rowdy when they get together in black jeans, red shirts, and black cowboy hats.
If i am not mystery the man that owns the sign shop is the son of the man that wrote the book that got me interested in my beloved Bodie. The story of Rosa May.
I know the current owner of Mark Twain Museum, there are quite a few artifacts in the museum they claim were Mark Twain's. So it's interesting you say he couldn't have worked there. I can say the spirits there have never talked about him when I'd investigate it. The Mackay Mansion is very haunted, probably one of the most haunted buildings in VC in my opinion. The docents have photographic evidence and I've gotten my share of spirit voices there giving historical names attached to the mansion and area.
Mark Twain was robbed (As a joke by friends) on the trail to Virginia City. His pocket watch was taken and never returned and he blamed the city ever since. Fire destroyed the second International and it never recovered after that with the decline of silver prices and the mines starting to get drained out. Louis L'Amour wrote a book called the Comstock Load based around the early 1860s. He uses several of the buildings and the street names in the book, which might be a fun read before visiting the city. With the outbreak of the Civil War, the people of Virginia City were divided, some wanted to side with the south and some with the north. Silver and gold from the mines would ultimately help fund the war effort for the Union. There might be a reason for the Sumpter bricks being there because, despite it being so far away, the townsfolk were directly affected by the outbreak of the War Between the States.
Great video as usual love the way you present history, but a little disappointed you didn't do the old Washoe club hopefully you will do another vc video
That's a real cool area; Reno, Carson City, Virginia City, and especially Lake Tahoe are nice places worth visiting within a 1 hour drive of each other.
@@HistoryHunterSarah OMG what a awesome fun place!! The wedding (not mine) was at the silver queen. Local people are friendly. Great time. Definitely would go back.
Have you done an episode on Locke Chinatown, the Ryde Hotel and Isleton (China/Japantown)? There's also the Grand Island Mission school and Grand Island Mansion on the other side of the island from the Ryde Hotel (Walnut Grove). Lots of history but some of it is potential hearsay. All those locations are haunted as well. J'aime Rubio a local amateur historian wrote quite a bit on Locke and the Ryde Hotel if you look her up on Facebook. She has some books too. Some old movies were filmed at the Ryde and in Isleton...I'm not sure about Locke beyond low budget indie films. I know the owner of several of the museums in Locke and the manager of the Ryde Hotel.
My family was in Virginia City back in the 60's. I saw a Red Headed Indian burial display in the floor there. The body was particularly mummified and the legs and arms were folded into the torso. They claimed the body was nearly 7 feet tall as determined by the length of leg bones. Anyone else remember that display?
My husband and I were married at the silver queen in 1977. Virginia city was a gambling town back then. It’s basically a ghost town now. You guys should check out Calico in yermo San Bernardino county.
A lot of those old mines are directly underneath VC's main street. All it's gonna take is for ONE rotting timber in a Deidesheimer squareset to give way and they can change the elevation signs by about 2000 feet. 🙂
Pipers Opera House was originally built around the same area as the train depot. It burned down and was rebuilt but the floor was to weak to hold the crowd and the floor fell in. The third one was built on the high street and they put railroad car springs to hold the weight of the crowd.
What sayeth the brethren?!! ECV Chpt 1864 is in Virginia City, I've got a couple buddies of mine who are in that Chpt...I myself am in ECV Chpt 58 E Stanislaus...💪 Satisfactory and So Recorded....lol
There’s a story that Clemens’ pen name refers to him keeping a bar tab. He’d order two drinks and tell the barkeep “Mark Twain”, referring to putting two chalk marks on a slate
@@Me97202 …. IIRC it refers to a River depth of two fathoms. Which is twelve feet. Riverboats were shallow draft. However a riverboat captain needed to be careful of not scrapping the bottom
That whole thing with Bonanza is hilarious. The reason the History Hunters were tired a lot of the time is more than high altitude. The whole town is on the side of a hill and a lot of it is up and down. The streets are narrow. There isn't a nice, wide, flat street such as shown in Bonanza. Further, you can stand on C Street and look across the sagebrush valley for miles. I don't know where the nearest ponderosa pine could be found. The idea that folks could ride in and out of Virginia City, to and from the Ponderosa Ranch, in short time frames is ridiculous. I roughly figured the imaginary Ponderosa Ranch would be something like 21 miles minimally from Virginia City. There would be a steep grade to enter Virginia City and a tired horse would hardly gallop up those steep hills. Back in horse and buggy days, 20 miles was a real trip for a horse and rider or wagon and team. Families used to take all day and half the night or more to go to town with a distance like that. In an emergency I think a horse can make such a distance at a fast pace but it would be hard on the horse and not something done frequently. The other thing that is messed up with Bonanza is any possible time line. The series was placed and started in something like 1859-60. The Ponderosa Ranch was supposed to have been there or been started at least in something like 1838 if one thinks it through. Meanwhile, the real life Donner Party starved to death in the mountains near there in 1846-47. They were trying to cross the Sierra Mountains to reach some ranchos on the western slopes. I do not know why they did not drop elevation to the Truckee Valley where game would have been more available. Anyway, there were apparently no ranches east of the mountains in Nevada at that time.
Oh yes good old Virginia City I lived there for some time fact if you go in the bucket of blood saloon you'll see some of my grandfather's paintings up on the wall he had donated that was to raise money to form the cheap posse their goal was to rescue anybody who fell down a mineshaft which was what happened occasionally very deep holes in the ground planes that went down out in the desert or trap mustangs on a mountaintop during the winter time the ranchers will get together donate a help out whatever and drop it off to the horses so they wouldn't starve to death, his first name was Cal same last name as me,
To understand the mining history of Virginia City you should read the book The Big Bonanza by Robert Wright aka Dan de Quille. He came from the east to roam around the west until finally settling in Virginia City around 1852 (?) where he became infatuated with the mines. He spent long days underground and wrote stories for the people back east. Comstock Lode is the name of the mining district that was discovered by two Irishmen, that part is true. But P.T. Comstock's involvement deserves a bit of clarifying. He had several undeveloped mining claims on Mt. Davidson and happened to wander into the Irishman's camp where he noticed they were collecting a very profitable amount of gold. P.T. started explaining to the relative newbies that HE owned the mining claim they were working because it was on his ranch (a lie) finally convincing them they would be wise to cut him in on an equal share. The mine once developed, became very profitable in gold but this heavy blue sand was clogging the rockers as it collected as fast as they could shovel it out to get at the gold. Many claims had been filed and many mines worked with very profitable returns in gold that paid up to $1000 a day but the gold was tainted. Some base metal combined with it to make it lighter in both color and weight so when pure gold was worth $20 an ounce Comstock gold only traded for $11 to $12 an ounce. In July, 1859, a rancher visiting the mines took a sample of the nuisance black rock to California where it was finally assayed. It turned out the blue/black rock the miners had been cursing and throwing aside was almost pure silver worth 'several' thousand dollars a ton. Much innovation came from the Comstock Lode mines in the way of square sets allowing the mining of huge voids and gigantic machines to move ore, men, and water. De Quille was enthralled, visiting each of the mines during the day and living as a Comstock bachelor at night, writing to his wife who remained at home back east. The Big Bonanza is a fascinating look at what was involved in pulling wealth out of the ground in the mid-1800s. De Quille's narrative is quite detailed and informative as his writings were depended upon by the rest of the country who up until then thought mining consisted of one man with a shovel piling gold into a bucket which was raised to the surface by another man hand-cranking a windlass. I hadn't been to Virginia City since the late 1960s and other than the year of the cars everything looked pretty much the same except the bars, I was at that awkward age, old enough to drive but too young to drink which looking back now had it's blessings. Thanks for sharing.
Not to deviate from your excellent presentations. This Virginia City episode erroneously shows a picture near the end of the "Red light district" and frames a black and white photo of a woman that is claimed to be Julia Bulette when in actual fact that photograph is of an infamous performer by the name of Lola Montez. Montez lived for quite some time in the California gold rush town of Grass Valley. Love your videos! Keep them coming please!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thumbs up- good video. Work on the pronunciation of the names of the historical characters though. Where was Stink E that day? An ancestor was killed at the 1500 ft level of the Yellow Jacket. VC H.S. - Home of the Muckers. (I still have a sweatshirt with the old logo).
As I understand it Mark Twain did work at that building. The fire simply burned the top floor, while the lower area (all stone) where he did most of his work was spared. So were many of the printing machines and equipment, even his desk.
There were 3 buildings that the Enterprise had used. The original was at the Silver Queen Motel where Twain worked and lived around 1862. The only thing reminder of that fact today at the Silver Queen is a mannequin of Twain in the window. Unfortunately, Silver Queen would rather bank on being haunted then having being the actually standing building where Twain spent time in. A year later in 1863, the Enterprise moved to another building (the present day Mark Twain museum). In 1864 Twain left Virigina City for good and headed to San Francisco. After Twain was long gone, the building burned down in the great fire of 1875. Everything in it was burnt and the equipment was a total loss. A year later in 1876, the Enterprise rebuilt and was back in business until 1916, but revived again in 1952. The building would be turned into a museum and bank on Mark Twain's short career with the Territorial Enterprise. They would claim a desk and even a portable toilet was used by Twain, all of which would not have survived the fire. The make up excuses by saying the basement survived, but that makes no sense since everything else (including furniture and equipment) was loss. Not to mention, the business lasted many years and under new owners, and equipment would be upgraded and new furniture purchased. I use to work as a docent at a large museum and I have friends that also work as docents in New Mexico. Unfortunately, historical places and museums fib to bring interest and attention. They figure 95% of visitors really don't care about the history and won't remember a thing when they leave, so what's the harm in fibbing and exaggerating. I have worked at a museum using items they claim was once owned by a famous historical person and it was an outright lie. Personally, as a history enthusiast, I hate that sh*t. Its not right fooling visitors. Lesson learn...take what docents and placards say with a grain of salt and do your own research if you care to know the facts.
We were there one time when they were restoring St. Mary's. They had a lot of the bricks of to to carefully put them back in place with new morter. They had a sign there that said, "Thow shalt not steal the bricks!" Thought it was pretty funny!
I can't remember the name of the place but they had the best fried chicken mashed potatoes and gravy out of this world fantastic food little expensive but it's worth it
Looks like a fun tourist trap to visit. I would visit if I could find out about how Hearst made his fortune there and how the Bourn family invested and then got out before it crashed.
Thumbs up. Your bitterness and dislike of Mark Twain makes us feel bad. Do you think you might be mistaking Twain’s early career, yet-to-be-perfected attempts at writing humor and lampooning as fake news?
I crack up at your pronunciation of the Priest's name...locals say it "MAN-O (hard o) GUH (similar to 'gum' sound without 'm' on the end) and on John Mackay...not "Mac Kay" but "Mack Key"...One locals opinion anyway! Other than that...interesting! Sarah looked like she was suffering from the altitude!
A guy I worked with got married in the Bucket of Blood th-cam.com/video/h4WKbSXzjxE/w-d-xo.html When my wife and I lived in Stockton, we would drive up to VC on our Tu-We weekend, and play Bingo at the Delta. We went often enough to where, one night, the cashier asked if we were locals. I wish! The tour that departs from the lot next to the BoB I found well worth the time. I love your videos, you both do a fantastic job at your labor of love.
Thanks for the tour of Vinny City. I have boyhood friends who live there and I've never visited. I'll have to call them up and make a trip. The downtown area seems so trashy with cheap stuff to buy & I think downgrades the authenticity of the past. And the overuse of Mark Twain's name turns me off too.
You need to go back and visit during fall and winter, when no one is there. It’s great!
Seriously Beautiful Town
New subscriber, love history. My husband, and I visited Virginia in the 70s. It was not as commercialized then as it is now, no whips cracking, or jumping from the sound. Julia, lady of the night is often not included in facts. She donated money, to the town, and fire department, also helping those who who were in poor living conditions. The thing that makes me mad, is they would bury murderers, and thieves in the cemetery, she was not allowed. Yes Mark Twain was quite the character, but they don't mind using his name for business now. Many reporters used that trick back in the time, let's face it, some still are. Loved the video.
Hi , just had enough time to catch up on the latest, Sara is looking different wow nice and Thank you for the history lesson , love visiting old towns way back when it was peaceful
Good job. I only live 9 miles away and have about 40 friends there. When I first moved here, I was up there every single day. I also have property near Lovelock; thanks for that video too.
Happy to get the tour, and reminisce.
Any comments on the systemic racism that has long existed and exhibited by residents of this town. There have been literally dozens upon dozens of reviews of visitors who've commented on the overt prejudicial behavior of shopkeepers and vendors.
Your dedication to historical accuracy is always appreciated! 🙌🙌🙌
This is fantastic! I'd love to visit! And I lol when you kept saying "some a$$hole" I reckon he's just part of the show out there
Another great video... I'll be watching every history hunters episode. My new favorite channel.. smashing the like button.. TCB⚡
Awesome thank you!
There are some ghost towns in Maryland which is exciting. Anyway cool video. Love this channel now and just found you today. I have a lot to catch up on though.
Awesome! Thank you! Welcome to History Hunters! Glad you found us, Izzy!
Jeff, you make the perfect tourist guide! VERY interesting
Roy G. Dodd thank you! I appreciate your comments!
Great video! I live in Virginia city, that guy who’s owns the “jackass” is named “stinky”. Got to love VC.
Stinky passed away recently and I heard his daughter adopted his donkey.
Watched a 2nd time loved more than 1st. Went through but never stopped. Will now. Great work as usual! Thanks
Awesome! Thank you! We appreciate it, Larry!
My mom and dad loved going from the Sacramento valley to VC for the ostrich and camel racing!🐪 They absolutely adored this town.
(I hadda y-t those races, i never have seen 'em)
I have visited Virginia City, that was the first time I played slot machines💰💰💰💰💰!!!!!
love n miss you mom n dad
I'm glad our video brought back some good memories for you!
Great video of Virginia City. I remember going there in the 70’s and went inside a store with a basement. Inside was a giant skeleton maybe one of the ones from Lovelock Cave. Never saw it again and asking about it for years no one seems to know what happened to it.
BTW that barbecue place at the end of town is wonderful
Spent many years at Virginia City with my Dad taking us to the Silver Stope for live jazz. I have a great appreciation for jazz. We visited places all over the city. My Dad also belonged to ECV.
My boyfriend is ECV and we are treated like royalty everywhere around Sierras.
I go there 3x a year. Talking to the locals and the St. Mary's museum staff you learn a lot! My favorite part is the cemetery.
This will be my next adventure! Can’t wait!
Thank you for the history some of us cannot get up there , I like your video and appreciate it for you showing us teaching US history seeing history of our country God bless you both brother!
Glad you enjoyed it! God Bless You too!
You are one of my best favorites on You Tube
Fantastic Betty!
Such a remarkable town. Great video, keep up the great work!
Thanks a lot I spent a week there last summer and didn’t learn nothing like this. Very good history presentation
RRRobelt Nest thank you very much!
Virginia City is filled with fascinating history, but unfortunately you have to do your own homework. The town does very little to tell the history and even still (like the case with the Mark Twain museum) you have to use discernment. Apparently, the money is in ghost tours and it makes me mad that history is overshadowed by ghost stories. People rather spend money on fake stories then facts. I had relocated to Carson City and visit VC regularly, and even the locals admitted to exaggerating the ghost stuff to draw attention for money.
I've been to coming to Virginia City for many years, we love bringing our kids for a family outing anytime we are in the Tahoe area. We were last there this past April and I filmed a video as well. There's a mine cave you can go into where the bank volt is, very interesting experience. The fire truck museum is neat too.
As many times as I've been there and admired that church, I didn't know you could go inside or about the museum. I've never taken the time to read all of the plaques either. The place is so rich in history.
Great job filming and remembering so many details.
Thank you, Jenny! I love it there. I appreciate you watching!
Have you checked out both churches? Catholic and Episcopalian. Most churches anywhere are traditionally open. Usually, if not, ask at the church office. These churches in Virginia City are tourist sites. I don't believe they have an active congregation. No priest or congregation office. If I recall, they are not original structures nor in the original site. Still really cool to visit because they were active congrgations at one point in time. Being Nevadan and grew up visiting Virginia City lends a unique appreciation. I'm going to try to get there probably fall 2020.
Great video! I love this stuff!
The Silver Queen Saloon is a must👌
If you don’t believe in ghosts, you’ve never lived in a home with ghosts. I not only have but still do. My previous home had the ghost of an Army Captain from Zachary Taylor’s Union Troops. He had probably died of dysentery. We could actually see him walking around our home. He would wake us up at night when he would sit on the sides of our bed. We could feel and see the bed depress when he would sit down to check on us. He was always in uniform and would also check on each of our kids. Our youngest son would see him sitting halfway in his book case watching him sleep. Our daughter would wake up to him standing at the end of her bed. They would just tell him to leave them alone and he’d fade-away. Our current home has the spirits of the couple who built our house. They died here and she likes to make toast, because we are always smelling bread toasting and he was a heavy smoker and he will light a match then blow smoke towards me. I tell him he’s not allowed to smoke in our house and the smell goes away. Unless you have seen and felt their presence, I can understand that it would be hard to believe, but they are around every where.
If I remember right, Julia Bulette donated money toward the Virginia City fire department. Julia was murdered in 1867.
There was a devastating fire in Virginia City 1875.
Who knows if she had lived, and if she had continued to donate to the fire department, would there have been more fire fighters on deck in 1875?
I am an antique telephone collector and telephone historian. Virginia City (NV) had a working magneto(hand cranked)system until the 1970s. May I refer you to the You Tube video"The Last Towns to Use Operators to Connect Calls" which includes this exchange in action. Finally, conversion to dial was made and the old switchboard is displayed in a local museum. It was the last magneto service on the Bell System by a BS operating company.
Love the history you guys rock beautiful town
Raymond Coggins thanks for the nice compliments!
@@jbenziggy your very welcome keep the videos coming
Excellent! Went there for the first time in 35 years late last year.
Great 👍
I’m so happy that I subscribed to your channel! I love history and you and Sarah! Love your videos!
Karen Utah thank you so much! I will let Sarah know that you said that because she’s a little shy at times. You really encourage me with your very nice comments! More videos are coming!!!
My two favorite tours in VC are the Washoe Club haunted tour and the Chollar Mine tour. Love the Sugar loaf Mountain motel.
I went to Virginia City back in the 50s.I remember the Silver Dollar Salon had a very large picture of a woman with one of those dress with lots of petty coats. It was cover with Silver dollars. The was a cemetery and one of the head stones said : I told you I was sick.
LOVE VIRGINIA CITY!!!! We visit everytime we go to Reno.
A beautiful and historic community. Like how you do your own touring. 😀
We appreciate you watching and commenting!
Another enjoyed show. Do you research places prior to visiting? Being a retired history teacher I think what you and Sara do would be fun. Plus, people need more history in their lives. Thank you. I look forward to the next show.
Blake Miller thanks! Yes I do the research before heading out. We just do this for fun because obviously this doesn’t pay. It costs! LOL
@@jbenziggy I really love the research you do. I'm picking up gems I didn't know. I'm native Nevadan and spent my youth with family in Virginia City. Dad was ECV and loved Silver Stope live jazz.
It is February of 2022 right now. And I am going back in a search of the "History Hunters" older videos. Jeff, this really is a great and sometimes funny video. The guy with the bullwhip really got you mad! I think it would have gotten old hearing that whip 2 or 3 times but after that it would have been a bother to constantly listen to. I have never seen so much Mark Twain stuff in my life! Anyway, I really enjoyed this video and it is different from your 2022 versions of work. Not that either are bad, just different. I hope you read this Jeff.
Yes I did read it! Interesting that you say our work is different now versus then. How do you think it’s different?
Hah! I got you... I put that comment in to grab your attention if you actually read comments from your previous videos. Now I know. You and I have some similar likes. I have met a lot of movie stars. Starting when we were in Singapore in the nicest and oldest hotels. My mother sent me over to get an autograph from Douglas Fairbanks Jr when I was 14. And later in life as part of my job I traveled all the time and ran into a ton of famous people. Jeff I really do enjoy your work. You are a true historian of many things in California. So I learned something new tonight. You really do read your followers comments! This is great. Take care and keep up the good work!
Good ole' Virginia City rich (no pun intended) in mining history and i'm glad at the beginning of the video you used the word tourist trap. I thought it was just me being me but, some places just reek of exploitation. I guess it keeps the city alive and lets it's history of that by-gone era continue to be passed on . So I guess it is for a worthy cause in the long run. As always , enjoyed getting schooled by an interesting and talent such as your self. If you ever do the Silverton train ride , be sure to give heads up. Safe travels to you.
I agree about tourist trap. It is in the mecca state of tourist traps. Fortunately that helps preserve the history for us history buffs in the know. Most really don't know the depth of history that they are missing. I love it!
I enjoy your videos as much as I did Huell Howser's . So glad I discovered your channel.
Love all the cool history
Great channel.. 😊🇺🇸🤠🌵
Thanks 👍
Thanks for sharing all your videos Jeff. Do a report about Bodie State Park, CA (old mining ghost town) I been there. You'll love the history about that place.
Bodie is actually on our list. We're just waiting for the right opportunity! Thanks for watching our videos!
⏩ *Ha!* All these videos later, and this is *the first time* I heard you swear! 😜 LOL
*Great video, however.*
Cool church.
Beautiful scenery.
*Very colorful place!*
*Population in 1870:*
30,000 residents
6 churches
Love your videos....and loved the righteous indignation with the AH in the street. Funny.
Tresi Lewis Thank you. Wasn’t I right though? Wasn’t he an a-hole? LOL
A few rowdy Montana towns we worked in 60 some years ago had bars locals called "Bucket of Blood." Another called _The Night Owl_ was known to locals as "the fight all." They weren't joking either.
P.S., great tour, btw. Thanks!
Kowboy USA thank you so much for the great feedback! It makes my heart glad! Jeff
Virginia City looks like both an interesting and fun place to visit!
As a Kid I visited Virginia City a few times. I remember Church in shambles ...the Herst was sitting on a alley way in shambles .. My Dad knew a Miner there, who took us for a stroll one day in an old Mine seemed like we walked for hours and ended up directly under the City .. What amazed me was the support Timbers ...
Watching more of this video I see it's really changed from when I was last there our house was built on B Street built in 1850 on top of the old Mexican mining Mill beautiful old home we had a wood burning stove six burner in fact cooked some of the best food last time I was there they're still mining gold on a much larger scale, the other times become commercialized private privatized sort of like key West is now what a shame
I always liked Mark Twain's story about the when the the 'Washoe zephyr' would blow in Gold Hill and they'd fly boiler doors for kites with a logging chain for a tail. He could spin a yarn.
Just went back to watch this one. Thank you so much for not having sound effects in your newer vlogs. I turned the volume down when it played but made it harder to hear you speak.
Sorry about that. We are learning how to better treat sound.
Another great video jeff.its like there were more people in virginia city in the 1860s than they are today.Any chance you will take in lake tahoe where they did some location work for bonanza and also where they build the Replica of the bonanza ranch house.looking forward to your next video.
You are correct there were thousands who lived there. When you see the churches imagine houses all the way out to the hill. It spread out like that in both directions. Mining was very active too. I'm native Nevadan. Visited Virginia City often as a kid. Dad was in ECV (E Clampus Vitus). You'll see ECV on historical markers. They love history and they are rowdy when they get together in black jeans, red shirts, and black cowboy hats.
If i am not mystery the man that owns the sign shop is the son of the man that wrote the book that got me interested in my beloved Bodie. The story of Rosa May.
I know the current owner of Mark Twain Museum, there are quite a few artifacts in the museum they claim were Mark Twain's. So it's interesting you say he couldn't have worked there. I can say the spirits there have never talked about him when I'd investigate it. The Mackay Mansion is very haunted, probably one of the most haunted buildings in VC in my opinion. The docents have photographic evidence and I've gotten my share of spirit voices there giving historical names attached to the mansion and area.
Mark Twain was robbed (As a joke by friends) on the trail to Virginia City. His pocket watch was taken and never returned and he blamed the city ever since. Fire destroyed the second International and it never recovered after that with the decline of silver prices and the mines starting to get drained out. Louis L'Amour wrote a book called the Comstock Load based around the early 1860s. He uses several of the buildings and the street names in the book, which might be a fun read before visiting the city. With the outbreak of the Civil War, the people of Virginia City were divided, some wanted to side with the south and some with the north. Silver and gold from the mines would ultimately help fund the war effort for the Union. There might be a reason for the Sumpter bricks being there because, despite it being so far away, the townsfolk were directly affected by the outbreak of the War Between the States.
I been there four times and never once went into the church just the museum. So beautiful in there.
Yeah, it’s something you don’t expect to see in Virginia City once you go inside.
Great video as usual love the way you present history, but a little disappointed you didn't do the old Washoe club hopefully you will do another vc video
That's a real cool area; Reno, Carson City, Virginia City, and especially Lake Tahoe are nice places worth visiting within a 1 hour drive of each other.
I live in Reno. Love Virginia city. Maybe things are not like you prefer, but Virginia city , just being there is incredible experiance!
You must do a Video on Bodie California, Tombstone Arizona, and The Dumass Brothel, which is extremely haunted 👌
We did two shows on Bodie and you will find them under our video tab. Check them out!
I love The bucket of blood saloon
Going there in Feb 2020 for a wedding. Can’t wait!!!!!
How was your visit and the wedding?
@@HistoryHunterSarah OMG what a awesome fun place!! The wedding (not mine) was at the silver queen. Local people are friendly. Great time. Definitely would go back.
Have you done an episode on Locke Chinatown, the Ryde Hotel and Isleton (China/Japantown)? There's also the Grand Island Mission school and Grand Island Mansion on the other side of the island from the Ryde Hotel (Walnut Grove). Lots of history but some of it is potential hearsay. All those locations are haunted as well. J'aime Rubio a local amateur historian wrote quite a bit on Locke and the Ryde Hotel if you look her up on Facebook. She has some books too. Some old movies were filmed at the Ryde and in Isleton...I'm not sure about Locke beyond low budget indie films. I know the owner of several of the museums in Locke and the manager of the Ryde Hotel.
Thank You. Enjoyed watching !
So glad! Thank you!
Thanks for covering our beloved Virginia City thoroughly. It was nice to watch the history you gave about it 👍 very nicely done .
My family was in Virginia City back in the 60's. I saw a Red Headed Indian burial display in the floor there. The body was particularly mummified and the legs and arms were folded into the torso. They claimed the body was nearly 7 feet tall as determined by the length of leg bones. Anyone else remember that display?
My husband and I were married at the silver queen in 1977. Virginia city was a gambling town back then. It’s basically a ghost town now. You guys should check out Calico in yermo San Bernardino county.
there was once a man the walk from Greenville ca. to Virginia city in 88 day and became a rich man in 1850 and most of mine where Comstock mine
A lot of those old mines are directly underneath VC's main street. All it's gonna take is for ONE rotting timber in a Deidesheimer squareset to give way and they can change the elevation signs by about 2000 feet. 🙂
Oldest tombstone I have seen in Gold Rush California is at the Volcano cemetery and dates to 1853.
Since 1994 hubby and I visiting Virginia City once a year, we have family and now we living in Sparks,Nv
Hi So you are close to VC! How many times do you go there now?
Love VC. I live down the hill from there.
Sooooo, your saying Mark Twain was the original “fake news”???😜
409rommel absolutely! He belonged in fiction, not the news room, but they all exaggerated back then too.
Cool video thank you!!!!
Pipers Opera House was originally built around the same area as the train depot. It burned down and was rebuilt but the floor was to weak to hold the crowd and the floor fell in. The third one was built on the high street and they put railroad car springs to hold the weight of the crowd.
What sayeth the brethren?!! ECV Chpt 1864 is in Virginia City, I've got a couple buddies of mine who are in that Chpt...I myself am in ECV Chpt 58 E Stanislaus...💪 Satisfactory and So Recorded....lol
Speaking of Governor Nye, look up a book called 'The Nye County Brothel Wars'. Very entertaining.
I’ve been there several times and the best place before it became amuseum was the washoe saloon Lots of ghost activity
There’s a story that Clemens’ pen name refers to him keeping a bar tab. He’d order two drinks and tell the barkeep “Mark Twain”, referring to putting two chalk marks on a slate
I’ve heard it’s a nautical term, from his days on riverboats.
@@Me97202 …. IIRC it refers to a River depth of two fathoms. Which is twelve feet. Riverboats were shallow draft. However a riverboat captain needed to be careful of not scrapping the bottom
Don't you just love how Virginia City looks nothing like it did in Bonanza? LOL
Yeah, the same with Stockton in "Big Valley:" LOL! Thanks for watching and congratulations on being the first commenter!
That whole thing with Bonanza is hilarious. The reason the History Hunters were tired a lot of the time is more than high altitude. The whole town is on the side of a hill and a lot of it is up and down. The streets are narrow. There isn't a nice, wide, flat street such as shown in Bonanza. Further, you can stand on C Street and look across the sagebrush valley for miles. I don't know where the nearest ponderosa pine could be found.
The idea that folks could ride in and out of Virginia City, to and from the Ponderosa Ranch, in short time frames is ridiculous. I roughly figured the imaginary Ponderosa Ranch would be something like 21 miles minimally from Virginia City. There would be a steep grade to enter Virginia City and a tired horse would hardly gallop up those steep hills. Back in horse and buggy days, 20 miles was a real trip for a horse and rider or wagon and team. Families used to take all day and half the night or more to go to town with a distance like that. In an emergency I think a horse can make such a distance at a fast pace but it would be hard on the horse and not something done frequently.
The other thing that is messed up with Bonanza is any possible time line. The series was placed and started in something like 1859-60. The Ponderosa Ranch was supposed to have been there or been started at least in something like 1838 if one thinks it through. Meanwhile, the real life Donner Party starved to death in the mountains near there in 1846-47. They were trying to cross the Sierra Mountains to reach some ranchos on the western slopes. I do not know why they did not drop elevation to the Truckee Valley where game would have been more available. Anyway, there were apparently no ranches east of the mountains in Nevada at that time.
Oh yes good old Virginia City I lived there for some time fact if you go in the bucket of blood saloon you'll see some of my grandfather's paintings up on the wall he had donated that was to raise money to form the cheap posse their goal was to rescue anybody who fell down a mineshaft which was what happened occasionally very deep holes in the ground planes that went down out in the desert or trap mustangs on a mountaintop during the winter time the ranchers will get together donate a help out whatever and drop it off to the horses so they wouldn't starve to death, his first name was Cal same last name as me,
To understand the mining history of Virginia City you should read the book The Big Bonanza by Robert Wright aka Dan de Quille. He came from the east to roam around the west until finally settling in Virginia City around 1852 (?) where he became infatuated with the mines. He spent long days underground and wrote stories for the people back east. Comstock Lode is the name of the mining district that was discovered by two Irishmen, that part is true. But P.T. Comstock's involvement deserves a bit of clarifying. He had several undeveloped mining claims on Mt. Davidson and happened to wander into the Irishman's camp where he noticed they were collecting a very profitable amount of gold. P.T. started explaining to the relative newbies that HE owned the mining claim they were working because it was on his ranch (a lie) finally convincing them they would be wise to cut him in on an equal share. The mine once developed, became very profitable in gold but this heavy blue sand was clogging the rockers as it collected as fast as they could shovel it out to get at the gold. Many claims had been filed and many mines worked with very profitable returns in gold that paid up to $1000 a day but the gold was tainted. Some base metal combined with it to make it lighter in both color and weight so when pure gold was worth $20 an ounce Comstock gold only traded for $11 to $12 an ounce. In July, 1859, a rancher visiting the mines took a sample of the nuisance black rock to California where it was finally assayed. It turned out the blue/black rock the miners had been cursing and throwing aside was almost pure silver worth 'several' thousand dollars a ton. Much innovation came from the Comstock Lode mines in the way of square sets allowing the mining of huge voids and gigantic machines to move ore, men, and water. De Quille was enthralled, visiting each of the mines during the day and living as a Comstock bachelor at night, writing to his wife who remained at home back east. The Big Bonanza is a fascinating look at what was involved in pulling wealth out of the ground in the mid-1800s. De Quille's narrative is quite detailed and informative as his writings were depended upon by the rest of the country who up until then thought mining consisted of one man with a shovel piling gold into a bucket which was raised to the surface by another man hand-cranking a windlass. I hadn't been to Virginia City since the late 1960s and other than the year of the cars everything looked pretty much the same except the bars, I was at that awkward age, old enough to drive but too young to drink which looking back now had it's blessings. Thanks for sharing.
Not to deviate from your excellent presentations. This Virginia City episode erroneously shows a picture near the end of the "Red light district" and frames a black and white photo of a woman that is claimed to be Julia Bulette when in actual fact that photograph is of an infamous performer by the name of Lola Montez. Montez lived for quite some time in the California gold rush town of Grass Valley.
Love your videos! Keep them coming please!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thumbs up- good video. Work on the pronunciation of the names of the historical characters though.
Where was Stink E that day?
An ancestor was killed at the 1500 ft level of the Yellow Jacket.
VC H.S. - Home of the Muckers. (I still have a sweatshirt with the old logo).
Virginia city was great .
I been there.
I live here
Further down the mountain from the church is the old hospital. It has been turned into an artist gallery.
Guy with whip used play with band Devo lol 😂
As I understand it Mark Twain did work at that building. The fire simply burned the top floor, while the lower area (all stone) where he did most of his work was spared. So were many of the printing machines and equipment, even his desk.
There were 3 buildings that the Enterprise had used. The original was at the Silver Queen Motel where Twain worked and lived around 1862. The only thing reminder of that fact today at the Silver Queen is a mannequin of Twain in the window. Unfortunately, Silver Queen would rather bank on being haunted then having being the actually standing building where Twain spent time in.
A year later in 1863, the Enterprise moved to another building (the present day Mark Twain museum). In 1864 Twain left Virigina City for good and headed to San Francisco. After Twain was long gone, the building burned down in the great fire of 1875. Everything in it was burnt and the equipment was a total loss.
A year later in 1876, the Enterprise rebuilt and was back in business until 1916, but revived again in 1952.
The building would be turned into a museum and bank on Mark Twain's short career with the Territorial Enterprise. They would claim a desk and even a portable toilet was used by Twain, all of which would not have survived the fire. The make up excuses by saying the basement survived, but that makes no sense since everything else (including furniture and equipment) was loss. Not to mention, the business lasted many years and under new owners, and equipment would be upgraded and new furniture purchased.
I use to work as a docent at a large museum and I have friends that also work as docents in New Mexico. Unfortunately, historical places and museums fib to bring interest and attention. They figure 95% of visitors really don't care about the history and won't remember a thing when they leave, so what's the harm in fibbing and exaggerating. I have worked at a museum using items they claim was once owned by a famous historical person and it was an outright lie. Personally, as a history enthusiast, I hate that sh*t. Its not right fooling visitors.
Lesson learn...take what docents and placards say with a grain of salt and do your own research if you care to know the facts.
What was that shop called with all the movie posters and signs inside?
I visited Virginia City today and the Red Dog Saloon was closed. Or should I say shut.
We were there one time when they were restoring St. Mary's. They had a lot of the bricks of to to carefully put them back in place with new morter. They had a sign there that said, "Thow shalt not steal the bricks!" Thought it was pretty funny!
my favorite place I've been like 3 times
I can't remember the name of the place but they had the best fried chicken mashed potatoes and gravy out of this world fantastic food little expensive but it's worth it
Looks like a fun tourist trap to visit. I would visit if I could find out about how Hearst made his fortune there and how the Bourn family invested and then got out before it crashed.
Thumbs up.
Your bitterness and dislike of Mark Twain makes us feel bad.
Do you think you might be mistaking Twain’s early career, yet-to-be-perfected attempts at writing humor and lampooning as fake news?
I crack up at your pronunciation of the Priest's name...locals say it "MAN-O (hard o) GUH (similar to 'gum' sound without 'm' on the end) and on John Mackay...not "Mac Kay" but "Mack Key"...One locals opinion anyway! Other than that...interesting! Sarah looked like she was suffering from the altitude!
A guy I worked with got married in the Bucket of Blood
th-cam.com/video/h4WKbSXzjxE/w-d-xo.html
When my wife and I lived in Stockton, we would drive up to VC on our Tu-We weekend, and play Bingo at the Delta. We went often enough to where, one night, the cashier asked if we were locals. I wish!
The tour that departs from the lot next to the BoB I found well worth the time.
I love your videos, you both do a fantastic job at your labor of love.
Thanks for the tour of Vinny City. I have boyhood friends who live there and I've never visited. I'll have to call them up and make a trip. The downtown area seems so trashy with cheap stuff to buy & I think downgrades the authenticity of the past. And the overuse of Mark Twain's name turns me off too.
I Love Virginia City !!!!
As do I, Nancy!
Mark Twain move to Angle Camp To the Gilles cabin were he wrote the book Jack Ass hill. A friend on mine live next the that cabin today/
We actually did a show on that Mark Twain twain cabin!