Today we decided to see the ruins of the old town of Silver City. There wasn’t much left but a few buildings that are in various stages of collapse. The setting was impressive and I can imagine that living there during the silver mining frenzy was quite interesting. In its heyday, the population reached 1200 and the city had 4 hotels, several boarding houses, saloons and extensive corrals and stables. Silver City was an important link to the Comstock Load Mines of Virginia City and the Processing mills along the Carson River.
Just up the road, we visited the town of Gold Hill. In 1870, there were 8000 people living here, all to mine gold and silver in what was to become the famous Comstock Load. In just twelve short years, the mines were tapped out, and the thriving community vanished, they could no longer even support a post office. Now, only a few houses dot the landscape and skeletons of the old mine shafts and equipment peek out from the surrounding hills.
A little further still, we came upon the town that was once the richest place on earth, Virginia City! Many miners who worked this area became millionaires! Gold was first discovered here in 1859. Virginia City is the nations largest National Historic Landmark and brings over two million visitors a year! We visited several gift shops, a casino, the fourth ward school and museum, and could have eaten our way through candy stores, fudge shops and ice cream parlors, but we didn’t – honest!
Mmmm... fudge.
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