Virginia City in Storey County, Nevada — The American Mountains (Southwest)
The Territorial Enterprise
Photographed By Syd Whittle, August 9, 2009
1. The Territorial Enterprise Marker
Near this site Nov. 3, 1860 was published the first Territorial Enterprise under a Virginia City dateline. Born 1858 at Genoa the Enterprise was to become a celebrated property of the Old West whose Editors, Joe Goodman, Rollin Daggett, Mark Twain, Judge C.C. Goodwin, achieved immortality in Western legion. This marker is placed Nov. 3, 1955 to mark 95 years of Nevada letters.
Charles Clegg, Editor
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Communications • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1880.
Location. 39° 18.606′ N, 119° 38.981′ W. Marker is in Virginia City, Nevada, in Storey County. Marker is on South C Street (Nevada Route 341), on the right when traveling north. Marker is mounted on the front of the Mark Twain Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 53 South C Street, Virginia City NV 89440, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. William Wright aka Dan De Quille (here, next to this marker); John “Snowshoe” Thompson / James T. Fennimore (here, next to this marker); Mark Twain (here, next to this marker); Virginia City (within shouting distance of this marker); The Delta
this page online
Regarding The Territorial Enterprise. When the paper first located in Virginia City in 1860, it was located down the street, on the second floor of the building which today is the Silver Dollar Saloon. In early 1862, it moved to the present location. Mark Twain started working there in August of 1862. The fire in 1875 did destroy most of the upstairs, however, the basement was not harmed. Fortunately, the desk Twain used, the composing tables, and type cases were in the basement at the time of the fire. Twain wrote a lot of his articles for the paper in that basement. He enjoyed being down there with the working guys.
Special Thanks to Don Harton for this information.
Also see . . .
1. Territorial Enterprise. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on October 17, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Photographed By Don Harton, circa May 2009
2. The Territorial Enterprise and Mark Twain Museum
2. Mark Twain and the Territorial Enterprise. Twain Quotes entry;
“Today very few copies of the Territorial Enterprise from Mark Twain's days exist. Much of Twain's writing for the Enterprise survives only as undated clippings from his personal scrapbooks or as reprints from contemporary newspapers of his time.” (Submitted on August 16, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.)
Additional keywords. Newspapers, Comstock Lode
Photographed By Robert W. Kerrigan, Photographer, circa March 1937
3. The Territorial Enterprise Building
Historic American Buildings Survey
HABS NEV,15-VIRG,6-1
National Register of Historic Places NRIS Number: 66000458
Click for more information.
Click for more information.
Photographed By Syd Whittle, August 24, 2009
4. Desk Used by Mark Twain
Photographed By Syd Whittle, August 24, 2009
5. Water Powered Letter Press
This letter press was manufactured by R. Hoe and Co. of New York and installed in 1864. It was powered by a water pressure turbine known as a water-motor. It powered a shaft that belt-drives the press. The press was displayed by Well Fargo Co. at the Worlds Fair on Treasure Island in San Francisco in 1939 along with the desk used by Mark Twain at the Enterprise.
Photographed By Syd Whittle, August 24, 2009
6. First Linotype in the West
Purchased from Printers Supply Co. of Minneapolis, Minn. in 1894.
Photographed By Syd Whittle, August 24, 2009
7. Printing Presses Used by the Enterprise
The press on the left is the first press used by the Enterprise. It was manufactured by the Thorpe Gordon Press Co. of Cleveland, Ohio.
The press on the right was manufactured in 1886 by the Boston Printing Press Co.
The press on the right was manufactured in 1886 by the Boston Printing Press Co.
Photographed By Syd Whittle, August 24, 2009
8. Paper Cutter
This paper cutter was manufactured by the F. P. Rosback Co. in 1888
Photographed By Syd Whittle, August 24, 2009
9. Don Harton, Tour Guide - Explaining Tools of the Trade
Paper cutter manufactured by Howard Iron Works of Buffalo, N.Y.
Photographed By Syd Whittle, August 24, 2009
10. Printer's "Art"
Photographed By Syd Whittle, August 24, 2009
11. Basement of the Territorial Enterprise - Location of the Mark Twain Museum
Photographed By Syd Whittle, July 6, 2009
12. Nevada’s First Newspaper Marker
This marker is located in Genoa, Nevada where the Territorial Enterprise was first published.
Click for more information.
Click for more information.
Photographed By Syd Whittle, August 24, 2009
13. Sign Mounted at Entrance to the Mark Twain Museum
These Three Sets of Solid Iron Antique Pillars Were Cast Here on the Comstock in the 1860’s.
The Finest Collection of Ornate Pillars in the West
They Were Restored and Preserved by the Territorial Enterprise in 1952 as enduring Monument to
Rollin Dagget ● Dan DeQuille ● Wells Drury ●
Joseph Goodman ● Frred Harte ● and Mark Twain
Men Who Made the Enterprise the Most Famous and Influential Newspaper Between Chicago & the Pacific Coast; & to the Distinguished Writers of Today.
Roger Butterfield ● Walter Van Tilberg Clark ● Bernard De Voto ● Duncan Emerich ● Stewart Holbrook ● and Joseph Henry Jackson
Who are Now Contributing to the Cresent Fame of the Revived Territorial Enterprise
Nevada’s Oldest Newspaper
The Finest Collection of Ornate Pillars in the West
They Were Restored and Preserved by the Territorial Enterprise in 1952 as enduring Monument to
Men Who Made the Enterprise the Most Famous and Influential Newspaper Between Chicago & the Pacific Coast; & to the Distinguished Writers of Today.
Roger Butterfield ● Walter Van Tilberg Clark ● Bernard De Voto ● Duncan Emerich ● Stewart Holbrook ● and Joseph Henry Jackson
Who are Now Contributing to the Cresent Fame of the Revived Territorial Enterprise
Photographed By Syd Whittle, August 24, 2009
14. Wide Area View of Sign in Photo #13
circa 1920
15. An Old Landmark, Virginia City, Nevada
The Territorial Enterprise Building
The Territorial Enterprise Building
This picture shows the building without the veranda, but with what was a probably a historical marker below the Territorial Enterprise sign.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 17, 2022. It was originally submitted on August 16, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. This page has been viewed 2,047 times since then and 92 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 16, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 2. submitted on August 25, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 3. submitted on August 16, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. submitted on August 25, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 12. submitted on July 9, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 13, 14. submitted on September 24, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 15. submitted on October 10, 2015.
