Virginia City in Madison County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
Virginia City National Historic Landmark District
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 5, 2009
1. Virginia City National Historic Landmark District Marker
Inscription.
Virginia City National Historic Landmark District. . The spectacular gold discovery in Alder Gulch on May 26, 1863, led to the rapid growth of this colorful and legendary gold camp town. Thousands of fortune-seekers rushed to the area, and by 1864 the Virginia City area boasted 30,000 residents. Rough characters attracted by the gold rush gave Virginia City an unsavory reputation, but these were tempered by pioneers and their families who settled here and helped to shape the new frontier. After the creation of the Territory of Montana, Virginia City became the territorial capital, 1868-1875, and the Madison County seat. As the gold played out, Virginia City’s population dwindled. False-fronted commercial structures, simple log cabins and frame Victorian residences remained as testimony to the transitory gold rush. Among the first to recognize the historical and architectural significance of Virginia City were Charlie and Sue Bovey of Great Falls. They began to purchase and stabilize some of the fragile buildings in the early 1940s. The Boveys’ personal efforts and those of their son, Ford, resulted in the town’s designation as a National Historic Landmark and its remarkable preservation as on of the most intact gold era towns in the West., Listed in the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior . In cooperation with the Montana Historical Society
The spectacular gold discovery in Alder Gulch on May 26, 1863, led to the rapid growth of this colorful and legendary gold camp town. Thousands of fortune-seekers rushed to the area, and by 1864 the Virginia City area boasted 30,000 residents. Rough characters attracted by the gold rush gave Virginia City an unsavory reputation, but these were tempered by pioneers and their families who settled here and helped to shape the new frontier. After the creation of the Territory of Montana, Virginia City became the territorial capital, 1868-1875, and the Madison County seat. As the gold played out, Virginia City’s population dwindled. False-fronted commercial structures, simple log cabins and frame Victorian residences remained as testimony to the transitory gold rush. Among the first to recognize the historical and architectural significance of Virginia City were Charlie and Sue Bovey of Great Falls. They began to purchase and stabilize some of the fragile buildings in the early 1940s. The Boveys’ personal efforts and those of their son, Ford, resulted in the town’s designation as a National Historic Landmark and its remarkable preservation as on of the most intact gold era towns in the West.
Listed in the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior • In cooperation with the Montana Historical
Location. 45° 17.573′ N, 111° 56.871′ W. Marker is in Virginia City, Montana, in Madison County. Marker is on Wallace Street (State Highway 287). Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Virginia City MT 59755, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Also see . . . Charlers Bovey (1907-1978). (Submitted on November 11, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 5, 2022
2. Virginia City National Historic Landmark District Marker
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 6, 2009
3. Northern Pacific Railroad Depot, ca. 1895
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 5, 2009
4. Virginia City National Historic Landmark District
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 5, 2009
5. Henry Ellings Store
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 5, 2009
6. Content's Corner
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 6, 2009
7. Madison County Courthouse
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 6, 2009
8. LaBeau's Jewelry Store, ca. 1863
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 5, 2022
9. Virginia City
has been designated a Registered National Historic Landmark under the provisions of the Historic Sites Act of August 21, 1935. This site possesses exceptional value in commemorating and illustrating the history of the United States,
U.S. Department of the Interior
National Park Service
1962
Credits. This page was last revised on October 28, 2022. It was originally submitted on November 11, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 994 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos:1. submitted on November 11, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 2. submitted on October 28, 2022, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on November 11, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 9. submitted on October 28, 2022, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.