Virginia City in Storey County, Nevada — The American Mountains (Southwest)

The Fourth Ward School

Photographed by Syd Whittle, August 9, 2009

1. The Fourth Ward School Marker

Inscription.
Walk in Their Shoes
On November 28, 1876, the excited residents of Virginia City christened their new monuments to education, the Fourth Ward School. The town was divided into “wards” for political and fire purposes. Built to honor the nation’s centennial, the majestic four-story building could accommodate over 1000 students, which helped alleviate the serious overcrowding in the eleven other public schools. The new school boasted state-of-the-art heating, ventilation, sanitation systems, curriculum, and teaching practices such as team-teaching.

Follow Their Footsteps By the mid-1930s, the other eleven schools were no longer standing and less than 200 students attended the school. The building was in need of repair, and it seemed to be an obsolete relic from another era. A new brick school was built with New Deal funding and the Fourth Ward closed its doors in 1936.

Abandoned to the elements for fifty years, state, federal and private grants rescued the structure and the community reopened the building in 1986 as a museum. As the last school standing of its type, hundreds of thousands of visitors ranging from school groups to foreign tourists have explored this authentically preserved time capsule and exhibits. The Fourth Ward School has become

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a community cultural center, archives and research center, and a place to connect to people and their stories of the Old West.

Explore Their Stories

Erected by Nevada Commission of Cultural Affairs, Nevada State Historic Preservation Office, National Park Service, Save America’s Treasures, Comstock Historic District Commission, Nevada State Division of Minerals Commission on Mineral Resources, Shannon Hataway Design.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Notable Buildings. A significant historical month for this entry is November 1812.

Location. 39° 18.18′ N, 119° 39.147′ W. Marker is in Virginia City, Nevada, in Storey County. It is on South C Street (Nevada Route 341) near Route 342. Marker is located at the parking area of the Fourth Ward School Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 537 South C Street, Virginia City NV 89440, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Reno Area.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Fourth Ward School (a few steps from this marker); Engineering Marvels on the Comstock (within shouting distance of this marker); Chollar – Potosi Mining Co. (within shouting distance of this marker); Combination Shaft (about 300 feet away, measured

Photographed by Syd Whittle, August 9, 2009

2. The Fourth Ward School Marker

in a direct line); Mackay Mansion (about 400 feet away); a different marker also named Mackay Mansion (about 400 feet away); Gould & Curry Offices (about 400 feet away); C. J. Prescott House (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Virginia City.

More about this marker. See Nearby Marker Fourth Ward School for additional photos and information links.

Close-Up of Artwork on Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, August 9, 2009

3. Close-Up of Artwork on Marker

The Fourth Ward School image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, August 9, 2009

4. The Fourth Ward School

The Fourth Ward School and Chollar Mansion image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Syd Whittle, August 25, 2009

5. The Fourth Ward School and Chollar Mansion

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 23, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. This page has been viewed 3,014 times since then and 25 times this year. It was the Marker of the Week June 5, 2011. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 23, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 5. submitted on August 31, 2009, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.