Then and now: Virginia City keeps its charm
Bucket of Blood in 1951. Photos/Bill Kingman
Bucket of Blood 2001
Bucket of Blood 2014
Virginia City was barely 90 years old when I snapped these black and white photos in 1951.
Today, more 60 years later, many of those landmarks remain. The classic Bucket of Blood saloon has moved its wall sign up to the second story, and the horse-drawn “Dead Wagon” glass-windowed local hearse is no longer parked just to the right of the picket fence.
Virginia City 2014
Virginia City 1951
According to Wikipedia, at the peak of its silver mining activity in the 1860s, Virginia City had an estimated 25,000 residents. One hundred fifty years later, the 2010 Census reported 855 residents.
— Bill Kingman
Virginia City is always high on the list of places to go when guests are in town. It’s always a crowd pleaser!
Long live Stinky!
We are in VC right now for the zombie run! Corner bar is sweet!
Where else can you go to watch Cowboys and Gals dance with Bikers ….
Yea Dog – I do the same and bring my guests there every time.
Love the old pictures Bill Kingman thank you
Love to check out the graveyard and thr dates of those markers.
Ah yes, Virginia City! Several years ago I bought tickets to see Dan Hicks and his Hot Licks play at Pipers Opera House. We got stuck in traffic behind a parade. There were people lining C street wearing tye dye shirts, (as was I), and some were carrying signs proclaiming “make love not war”, ” peace” and other assorted 60’s slogans. Turns out Virginia City was celebrating part of it’s past with what was called “Hippy Days”. I didn’t know about this event until we got there.
So there were lots of old hippies there, The Clampers were there in red shirts for one of their gatherings, and a big motorcycle club was in town as well. What a hoot!!! Everybody got along just fine and we all partied together, ( good thing I rented a room!)
Dan Hicks put on a great show and everybody had a great time. So much fun for such a small town!
Been goin’ to VC for over 50 years and will keep doin’ so. I’m glad that place is still alive and kickin’, Old Long Skiis. Thanks Bill
Many old, and newer memories of V.C.
Piper’s has been restored enough over the years to be functional again.
The B St. B & B is in nice condition again…quite a few of the old places have been lovingly restored and are available to stay in. The Camel and Ostrich Races are a kick. The V & T railroad is operational from the Flint Dr. terminal in Carson City to V.C. and the So. Lake Tahoe Ukulele Club has been renting an entire Pullman car once a year for a strum-along, and strum-back ride pulled by a steam locomotive. The old radio museum, which even had the ancient transmitter from KOWL (or maybe it was KTHO)….just kidding Bill….I think that transmitter was given to them by you….anyway, the museum has moved to Dayton or Silver Springs??…no longer open to the Public…boo hooo! V.C. is a real kick, I used to ride my motorcycle from SLT to there several times a year. Often stayed in town. One can still often see herds of wild mustangs on the way there. Even when I lived in L.A., I traveled to V.C. a couple times a year. Once a year was the Ferrari owners club races up the back road to V.C…….MANY fond memories. I’ll be in VC again, late this month. Not sure about New Year’s though….have done that, nasty snowstorm, but lots of partying……ah, memories from an old fart….
And where else can you go to see Camel races and Outhouse races? And while you’re there, tour a mine and maybe hear/see a ghost or two!
Okay, One more Virginia City story. My girlfriend and I along with another couple bought tickets to see the group, “It’s A Beautiful Day” at The Red Dog Saloon. Remember the songs from their 60’s? Songs like, “white bird” or “hot summers night”?
We got to meet the lead singers , David and his wifeLinda. David Laflamme being the player of the smokin’ violin. On their break they came over to our table and we talked( they saw me singing along from the stage), they remembered playing at “The Fun house” here on Shore, and yep, I was there in 1960 something dancing around under the black lights at the the old Fremont Mall ,(formerly an old Safeway store)!
So yes, alot of water under the bridge ol’ frenz on LTN. You take care and enjoy our beautiful fall weather. OLS