Virginia City (Montana)

Virginia City is a small town (most definitely not a 'city'!) in Madison County, in south-east Montana, approximately midway between Butte and Bozeman, south of the I-90 highway. It was once the capital of the Montana Territory. When gold was discovered nearby in Alder Creek, it became a boomtown in the ensuing gold rush.

Like many gold towns, Virginia City became the "Wild West". Drinking, gambling and vigilante justice were part of the culture. People such as Calamity Jane called Virginia City home for a time.



Understand
The ghost town of Virginia City began to be restored for tourism in the 1950s. Most of the city is now owned by the state government and is a National Historic Landmark operated as an open air museum. Of the nearly three hundred structures in town, almost half were built prior to 1900.

The town is mostly only a tourist destination. Nearly all businesses in the town are geared toward tourism. There are less than 200 residents.

Get in
Virginia City is on MT Highway 287. It is 15 miles west of Ennis and 30 miles east of Twin Bridges.

Get around
A steam train runs between Virginia City and nearby Nevada City as a sightseeing option. Additionally there are horse drawn tours around the town of Virginia City

A car is necessary to get to Virginia City. Once there park the car and walk to all destinations.