An Authentic Wild West Mine Town—Virginia City, NV

You’re riding through the Nevada desert under the blazing sun when suddenly you spot a sign welcoming you to Virginia. Don’t worry, you haven’t managed to magically transport yourself to the East Coast—note that word “City” on the sign.

You may find yourself transported back to the Old West, though. Virginia City, NV, is a lively little town that makes the frontier days spring back to life.

The town seemingly popped out of the ground overnight in 1859, like so many boomtowns in the West. Virginia City wasn’t born because of gold, though, but silver as miners rushed to exploit the freshly discovered Comstock Lode.

From its beginnings, Virginia City embodied the frontier. Case in point, it’s reportedly named after successful prospector James “Ol’ Virginni Finney” Fennimore, who tripped and smashed a whiskey bottle on a saloon door, thus christening the town.