The mountains near Virginia City, Nevada. Virga can be seen falling from the clouds. Like many cities and towns in Nevada, Virginia City was a mining boomtown; it developed virtually overnight as a result of miners rushing to the Comstock Lode silver strike of 1859 on the eastern slopes of Mount Davidson. But, Virginia City far surpassed all others for its peak of population, technological advancements developed there, and for providing the population base upon which Nevada qualified for statehood. The riches of the Comstock Lode inspired men to hunt for silver mines throughout Nevada and other parts of the American West. At its peak, Virginia City had a population of over 25,000 residents and was called the richest city in America. Dominated by San Francisco moneyed interests, Virginia City was heralded as the sophisticated interior partner of San Francisco. “San Francisco on the coast and Virginia City inland” became the mantra of west coast Victorian entrepreneurs. Early Virginia City settlers were in large part the backwash from San Francisco and the California Gold Rush, ten years before. Mine owners who made a killing in the Comstock mines spent most of their wealth in San Francisco.
From the Nye County, Nevada Photograph Collection (PH-00221) -- Series V. Smoky Valley, Nevada and Round Mountain, Nevada -- Subseries V.D. Zaval Family (Smoky Valley and Round Mountain)
From the Nye County, Nevada Photograph Collection (PH-00221) -- Series V. Smoky Valley, Nevada and Round Mountain, Nevada -- Subseries V.D. Zaval Family (Smoky Valley and Round Mountain)
Materials contain photographs from Pahrump, Nevada from 1910 to 1950, and document the activities of the Hughes, Ruud, Turner, Wiley, Ford, Hafen, and Brown families. Materials include photographs of animals, ranch work, buildings, cattle, wells, crops, Cathedral Canyon, the airstrip, homesteading grounds, cabins, mushroom clouds from the Nevada Test Site, the First Pahrump Harvest Festival, ranchers, the Pahrump School, the Pahrump Trading Post, irrigation systems, Noonday Mill, and the Pahrump Store. Materials also contain photographs of several ranches in the Pahrump Valley, including the Pahrump Ranch, Hidden Hills (Yount) Ranch, Resting Spring Ranch, Wiley Ranch, and Hafen Ranch.
Archival Collection
Nye County, Nevada Photograph Collection
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Collection Number: PH-00221 Collection Name: Nye County, Nevada Photograph Collection Box/Folder: N/A