Virginia City in Madison County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)

Ten Pin Alley Store

This property Contributes to the Virginia City Historic District

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 5, 2022

1. Ten Pin Alley Store Marker

Inscription. Virginia City grew up almost overnight after William Fairweather found color in Alder Creek. Miners rushed to the rich diggings, leaving Bannack, Montana’s first major gold camp, practically a ghost town. Among the Bannack merchants to follow their customers to Virginia City was J. E. McClurg, who opened a mercantile here with partner James Ptorney. The false-front Greek Revival style building later accommodated other tenants, including Meyer and Koerner’s Ten Pin Alley Saloon (circa 1873-75). A popular nineteenth-century male sport, bowling was not the respectable pastime it later became. Bowling was originally played with nine pins; entrepreneurs added the final pin to circumvent laws banning the game, and ten pin bowling was born. In 1899, Wells Fargo & Co., originally located a few doors east, moved to this location. In the turbulent 1860s and 1870s, the famous stage company provided an essential link to the outside world, but by 1899 rail travel had almost displaced the stagecoach. The last stage departed in 1910 and the building was abandoned until restoration in 1945 by Charles Bovey.

Erected by Montana Historical

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Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Notable Buildings • Sports. In addition, it is included in the Montana National Register Sign Program series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1899.

Location. 45° 17.585′ N, 111° 56.828′ W. Marker is in Virginia City, Montana, in Madison County. It is on Wallace Street near Jackson Street, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 308 West Wallace Street, Virginia City MT 59755, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Montana, in Gold West Country, in Mining Country and in Greater Bozeman.

It is also in the American Mountain West

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: E. L. Smith Store (here, next to this

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 5, 2022

2. Ten Pin Alley Store Marker

marker); Elephant Auction House (here, next to this marker); Blue Front Variety Store (here, next to this marker); Assay Office (a few steps from this marker); Content's Corner (a few steps from this marker); S. R. Buford & Company (a few steps from this marker); Grub Stake (a few steps from this marker); The Buford Block (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Virginia City.

Ten Pin Alley Store image. Click for full size.

Montana Historical Society

3. Ten Pin Alley Store

Ten Pin Alley Store is the fourth building from the left and to the right of the bushes/trees.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 27, 2022. It was originally submitted on October 27, 2022, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 172 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 27, 2022, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.