Virginia City

On May 26, 1863, six prospectors camping along a small stream near alder trees were panning for enough gold to buy tobacco. Barney Hughes, Thomas Cover, Henry Rodgers, William Fairweather, Henry Edgar and Bill Sweeney turned up $2.40, and the rush was on.

Word quickly spread and soon miners covered the hillsides with tents and crude log cabins. Virginia City's population grew to an estimated 5,000 people by mid-1864.

Virginia City was Montana's Territorial Capital from 1865 to 1875. When gold in Alder Gulch played out and Helena emerged as a major financial center in the territory, the capital was moved to Helena. The site of Montana's first public school, and the home of the first Montana newspaper were also in Virginia City.

It was also here in Virginia City that a group of citizens from the community united in response to a particularly brutal string of robberies and murders to form the Vigilantes. According to historical accounts the Vigilantes were responsible for administering a particularly effective form of frontier justice, wherein twenty-four men suspected of being road agents (outlaws) were hunted down and executed over a four-month period. After this intense period of social unrest the Vigilantes disbanded as quickly as they formed, melting back into the day-to-day fabric of this now more civilized community.

A small, friendly community nestled amongst the renowned gold-laden hills and gulches of Alder Gulch. Virginia City remains a true historical treasure. Recognized in 1961 as a National Historic Landmark, the town has seen every form of boom-and-bust cycle imaginable.

Today the town has been well preserved, largely through the efforts of Charles and Sue Bovey. In the 1940's when they first visited Virginia City much of the town was falling down. Through the hard work of many, a vast collection of artifacts and the preservation of buildings, Virginia City has become a vibrant, exciting glimpse into Montana history.

Virginia City is located south of Butte on Highway 287. Travel east on I-90 to Highway 41 and pick up Highway 287 at Twin Bridges.

Contact Information:

Virginia City Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 218
Virginia City, MT 59755

Phone: 406-843-5555 or 1-800-829-2969
Email: info@virginiacitychamber.com

Virginia City

Contact Information:

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