Virginia City, Montana

Virginia City holds a special place in Montana's history. Though it may be best known as the rough-and-ready mining camp where vigilantes organized to rid the country of road agents and murderers, it is important to our history for many other reasons as well.

Virginia City was Montana's Territorial Capital from 1865 to 1875. It was the site of our first public school. It was the home of our first newspaper. It was the place where the first book in Montana was published.

The town has been unusually well preserved, largely through the efforts of Charles and Sue Bovey. When they first visited Virginia City in the early 1940s, much of the town was falling down. They began organizing others to save what they could, and many people helped out. But it was mostly their own money and their own work that saved the town.

They traveled the country, collecting historical artifacts. They bought buildings and did the work needed to preserve them. They assembled at Virginia City and nearby Nevada City what may be the largest collection of historical materials dealing with the American West outside the Smithsonian Institution.

Because of a series of lucky circumstances--the absence of major fires, the lack of later development, and the early interest of the preservation-minded Bovey family--Virginia City today remains a historic treasure.

The Montana Legislature voted to purchase these properties in 1997. The Montana Heritage Preservation & Development Commission was established to manage the properties, with the assistance of the Montana Historical Society. With the Montana Heritage Commission's guidance, many historic buildings are being stabilized and preserved and artifacts are being well cared for.

The 2003 Legislature moved the attachment of the Montana Heritage Commission from the Montana Historical Society to the Montana Department of Commerce with the idea that this larger agency will be better able to provide support services, marketing, tourism assistance, and website development. The Montana Heritage Commission website can be viewed at montanaheritagecommission.com.

CULTURAL HERITAGE
GOLD! THE RUSH BEGINS
HENRY PLUMMER
VIGILANTE JUSTICE
3-7-77
MINING TERMS
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