Historical Markers of Storey county
- HM 13 - The Comstock Lode
- HM 28 - Mark Twain
- HM 87 - Savage Mansion (c.1863)
- HM 132 - Mackay Mansion
- HM 209 - Chollar Mine
- HM 228 - The Great Fire of 1875
- HM 236 - Piper's Opera House
- HM 266 - African Americans and the Boston Saloon
Nevada Landmarks Home Page
*HM 228*
-- The Great Fire of 1875 --
|
Location: Virginia City
|
|
Date Conquered: 7/7/07
Quick Description: A marker remembering the greatest catastrophe to befall Virginia City
Signed: No -- Historically, this marker was never signed.
NOTES: #228 is set along A Street, well above the main tourist row of C Street. Please note this is a highly residential section of Virginia City. Please be respectful.
Full Description:
Early on the morning of October 1876, a coal oil lamp was knocked over in a nearby boarding house, causing the greatest calamity to ever befall Virginia City. Strong winds set buildings ablaze by the second, leveling 33 blocks in total! A handful of well known buildings including St. Mary's Catholic Church, Piper's Opera House, the Storey County Courthouse and the International Hotel were destroyed along with most of Virginia City's business district. Today's Virginia City is protected with the very same hydrant system that was established just after the blaze in part with the volunteer fire department.
