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Step Into Montana's Past With A Visit To Virginia City and Nevada City

Virginia City, Montana's first Territorial Capital, enjoys an interesting past. Originally part of the Idaho Territory, Virginia City began with the gold rush to Alder Gulch. Nevada City, a restored ghost town, was home to many gold prospectors. Sitting side by side, Virginia City and Nevada City make a fun day trip from Elk Lake Resort. This brief introduction will enlighten you on some of Montana's history.

Virginia City Montana, is considered by many to be the birthplace of Montana. The original city was quite unique in that it played an interesting role in our country's Civil War - although a long way from the battleline. Originally, in what was considered Idaho Territory, Virginia City began as a Rebel Town in Union Territory. People of the west, by majority, were northern sympathizers. Virginia City residents, by an large, were not. In fact, the majority of its residents were outspoken supporters of the south. 'Verona', the city's original name, was their spelling of Varina, the wife of Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States of America.

Emigrants flooded into Idaho and Montana from the war-torn South. One prime example was Paris Pfouts, a Missouri resident and ardent secessionist, who ended up Mayor. Because of the North's precarious hold on the area, President Lincoln sent emigrants from the northern states in an effort to retain control of the wealth. Mini-wars often broke out in the streets of town as the opposing sides clashed. Fortunately, they usually ended quickly. Because the majority's loyalty was to the south, Washington, in the heat of battle at home, sent Sidney Edgerton to Bannock, (then Idaho) to assure the north's control of the gold - and to support the cause of his friend, Abraham Lincoln.

Gold! The very word drove many men to insanity. However, the gold found in Alder Gulch not only affected individuals, it had an impact on the entire nation. Control was key. Who would control this rich deposit? The North? The South? Whose land was it? The details of this turbulent time continue to turn up - and Virginia City's historians are faithfully compiling the record.

Gold fever they called it. It drove men from their homes and families. Moving from place to place they chased the 'rumor' of gold. Typically these men only stayed in an area for six weeks - the 'mythical' time it would take them to strike it rich.

To say 'life was hard' is to greatly understate the reality. Miners lived and worked in the worst conditions. They were often exploited, often injured, and many died at a very young age. Violence and cruelty were commonplace. Fights were the norm. The men who escaped accidental death on the mine fields, often succumbed to a bullet in a bar fight. This was life in Virginia City in the mid to late 1800's.

In spite of its violent past, Virginia City did play an important role in the 'culturization' of Montana. It served as Montana's Territorial Capital from 1865 to 1875. The first public school found a home here. The first newspaper as well. The first book published in Montana came from Virginia City's presses.

Today Virginia City is the county seat for Madison County. It stands as a well-preserved testimony to Montana's often violent and yet exciting past.

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