Virginia City, Nevada is one of the coolest Old West mining towns left in the country, and rightfully so as it was once the site of the biggest bonanza in the country’s history. Ten years after the California gold rush brought tens of thousands of people west to find their fortunes, Henry Comstock discovered gold at what would later be called Gold Canyon. The Comstock Lode would bring 25,000 people into the desolate Nevada hills and Virginia City would come to be known at “The Richest Place on Earth”. Because of the tremendous wealth in the area, huge hurdles would be overcome as the town grew, including piping in water from the nearby Sierra Nevada mountains and building a railroad up the steep grade to bring supplies in and out of town. Beautiful churches, mansions, schools and a gorgeous county courthouse were built, along with dozens of saloons, gambling halls and brothels. As a nod to the latter, you’ll notice that the statue of Justice on the courthouse isn’t blind, but instead holds a constant watch over the town. In total, over $400 million dollars worth of gold and silver came out of these hills, equivalent to several billion in today’s money. These riches would filter out of the hills and be responsible for the founding of Reno and for turning San Francisco into the beautiful city it is today. It also helped fund the Union cause during the Civil War, hastening the push for Nevada’s statehood. Nevada’s “Battle Born” motto and designation as the Silver State are both a direct result of the wealth of Virginia City. When the minerals played out, the population dwindled and major fires burned down a lot of what Virginia City once was. Today, nostalgia for the past brings in plenty of tourism and it’s well worth a visit. I hope you enjoy these photos from colorful, historic Virginia City, Nevada a town where the Old West lives on.
Genoa was first settled by Mormon pioneers in what was then the Mexican Territory of Alta California. Their settlement was known as Mormon Station and served as a roadhouse for westbound emigrants along the California Trail. After American annexation following the Mexican-American War, John Reese arrived and expanded the operation. Others soon settled in the area as well and the town started to grow. In 1856, the town was renamed after the Italian city of Genoa. The Genoa Bar was opened in 1853, making it Nevada’s oldest “thirst parlor”. Genoa was also home to Nevada’s first newspaper and served briefly as the capital city of the newly organized Nevada Territory. A beautiful brick house in town was built by “Lucky Bill” Thorington in 1855, but I guess his luck eventually ran out as he was the first man hanged in Nevada Territory. in 1919, Lillian Finnegan wanted to help the town purchase streetlights so she organized the Genoa Candy Dance to raise money, an event still held today over a century later to raise funds for the town. Genoa is a cool little place just a quick drive from Carson City and well worth a look if you’re ever in the area. I hope you enjoy these photos from Genoa, Nevada’s oldest town.
Originally home to the Northern Paiute people, the first non-native person to come through the valley was probably Peter Ogden of the Hudson’s Bay Company, who arrived in 1828. Settlers came to the valley in 1863 and after trouble with the Paiute, Fort Winfield Scott was built for protection. Perhaps because of that, the town that grew up there was originally named Scottsdale and helped supply the area’s mines. It was renamed Paradise City in 1869 and Paradise Valley much later.. The catholic church in town is a reminder of the area’s Italian and Basque heritage. In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) had a camp in town (which is still there today). They were responsible for building the Hinkey Summit/Canyon Creek Road as well as several stone bridges and buildings in the area. Agriculture is the main economic driver in the region these days. Paradise Valley is perhaps best known as the hometown of actress Edna Purviance who appeared in almost 30 films with Charlie Chaplin.
While I came to photograph the cool, old buildings in town, there are some beautiful new homes around as well. The two churches were beautiful and well kept and the saloon looks like it gets quite lively at times. It seems like it would be a wonderful place to live if you wanted to get away from it all. Today, Paradise Valley is home to just over a hundred people. It’s not really close to anything, but if you ever get the chance, stop by and have a wander. You’ll be glad you did. I hope you enjoy these photos from Paradise Valley, Nevada - Humboldt County’s not quite ghost town.
Truckee is an adorable little town nestled in the Sierra Nevada Mountains just over the border into California from Nevada. Originally Paiute Indian land, Truckee gets its name from Chief Truckee who welcomed early settlers and helped them traverse the pass through the Sierras. Among the earliest American emigrant parties to pass through the area was the ill-fated Donner Party who only made it a little ways further up the mountain before getting snowed in by early winter weather in 1846. As more emigrants arrived, a roadhouse sprang up to supply them. Later, the Truckee River gorge would be the route chosen for the transcontinental railroad with Truckee named as a station location, and the town would grow up around it. Truckee was the site of one of the country’s first ski lifts, and skiing is one of the area’s major tourism draws. In the summertime, there are plenty of trails to keep people coming and, with Lake Tahoe just a 25 minute drive away, the town keeps pretty busy year-round. Truckee is a great place to visit with lots of character and some great old buildings. If you’re ever in the area, pop on in for a visit. You may find yourself staying longer than you thought you would. I hope you enjoy these photos from wonderful Truckee, California.
Hello Everyone! It’s been a lovely week here in the greater Lake Tahoe region. The weather has been cold, but also clear and sunny and hard to beat for the middle of January. I’ve spent most of the week catching up with old friends and taking it slow which has been really nice. I did get out for a day on the slopes in South Lake Tahoe while I was here which was awesome and a real treat. It’s about time for me to hit the road again and head out across Nevada, but it’s been a nice break here in the mountains among friends…
When you say the word “Oregon” to most people, it’s highly unlikely that any of the photos in this post would pop into their heads. Most people picture The Beaver State as a lush, green place full of rivers and waterfalls or maybe the rugged coastline of Western Oregon. But the southeast is an important piece of the puzzle as well. Desert valleys and volcanic craters, snow dusted mountains and rugged frontier towns make up this corner of Oregon and it’s a fascinating place to visit. When I was there I had it almost all to myself. The people of the region are tough and life isn’t necessarily easy out there, but the wide open spaces sure let your soul breathe a little bit. If you ever get the chance, come for a visit. You may find yourself lingering longer than you thought you would. This ain’t Portland and it’s not trying to be. I hope you enjoy these photos from the beautiful southeast of Oregon, a very different side of the Beaver State.
One of the west’s most fascinating historical figures to me has always been Chief Joseph of the Wallowa Nez Perce. Joseph was both a warrior and a peacemaker but ended up in an impossible position in 1877 after a treaty guaranteeing his band’s place in the Wallowa Valley was broken and four white settlers were killed by his people in the aftermath. He fled towards the Canadian border with his band but was overtaken just shy of the border. In the aftermath of what has become known as the Nez Perce War, the Wallowa band was resettled on the Colville Reservation in Washington which I visited late last year. Joseph traveled far and wide speaking on behalf of his people and never gave up hope of returning to his beloved Wallowa Valley. He spoke so fondly of it that I knew I had to go visit the area when I had the opportunity. What I found was a stunning valley, surrounded by mountains and ribboned with rivers and lakes, As soon as I descended into the valley I could see why Chief Joseph was so passionate about it. In addition to being their traditional homeland and the place where their dead are buried, it clearly provided them with everything they would have ever needed.
Nestled in the heart of the Wallowa Valley is the town of Enterprise, an adorable little mountain town founded in 1886 and now home to about 2,000 people. Enterprise is both the county seat of Wallowa County and the main supply town for the region. The railroad arrived in 1908 allowing the Eastern Oregon Lumber Company to form a few years later. Lumber is still a major player in the local economy and, along with the local ranching operations, helps keep the town afloat. I loved the little historic downtown core which is clean and well-kept, and dinner at the Range Rider was also a treat. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Enterprise and the Wallowa Valley and I hope you enjoy these photos from my visit.
When I drove out to Palouse Falls I knew it was in the middle of nowhere and I knew I would stay until sunset. What I didn’t know is where I would end up for the night. I figured I’d just drive until I found somewhere good. When I pulled into Dayton, I knew I was there. Dayton is the cutest town I found anywhere in the Pacific Northwest. The historic 1881 train depot (Washington’s oldest), the circa 1887 county courthouse, the old schoolhouse and the historic Liberty Theatre are so quintessentially small-town America that they made me smile from ear to ear. The bustling main street with the delightful Moose Creek Bakery and the wonderful Buckwheat Brewery was great too. I think what made me smile the most, though, was their undeniable local spirit. It seemed as though everyone in town was supporting The Bulldogs with hand painted signs in almost every window. I had a wonderful stay in Dayton and lingered longer than I ever would have imagined. I hope you enjoy these pictures of beautiful Dayton, home of The Bulldogs and Washington’s picture perfect small town.
Toppenish is a cute little town with an Old West feel on the Yakama Indian Reservation in Southeast Washington State. It’s home to the wonderful Yakama Nation Cultural Center which was one of the better American Indian museums I’ve visited in the state. You can also find the Northern Pacific Railway Museum and the American Hop Museum which cover two of the main industries in the town’s history (both were sadly closed during my visit). Toppenish gets its name from a Yakama word meaning “landslide”. It is probably most famous for its 75 downtown murals which depict life in the valley between 1840 and 1940. I had a pleasant stay in Toppenish, and was treated to one of the best sunsets I’d seen in months while I was there. I hope you enjoy these photos from Toppenish, a town of museums and murals in Yakima County.
Roslyn is a tiny town of less than a thousand people in the heart of the coal mining region of Kittitas County. The community was founded in 1886 as a company town for the Northern Pacific Coal Company. Coal miners came from all over the world to work in Roslyn, creating a diverse community, and many ethnic social clubs began to form. Tragedy struck in 1892 when Roslyn Mine #1 exploded killing 45 local miners in the deadliest mining accident in Washington history. The mines would continue to operate until 1963. Roslyn has maintained much of its coal town appearance and has been listed on the National Register of historic places. The town has been used as the filming location for several TV and movie projects, most notably transforming into the fictional Alaskan town of Cicely for the show Northern Exposure. The mural of the Cafe Roslyn features prominently in the show’s opening credits and was originally placed there by my friend Gabe’s aunt who ran the cafe and had an affinity for Camel cigarettes. Roslyn is also home to The Brick, the oldest continuously operating bar in the state. Just outside of town are 26 fascinating cemeteries which are technically separate but are all adjoining. These served the different social and ethnic societies in their time and provide an interesting window into the town’s past.
I had a great time during my brief stay in Roslyn. I loved all of the old buildings and remember seeing some of them before on TV. Marco’s Place had a great barbecue special the night I visited and the downstairs speakeasy at the Base Camp bookstore was a lot of fun. The Brick is a must-visit place and had live music the night I was there. Although I didn’t see it, there is supposedly an old jail cell in the basement for any patrons who get out of line. I’m definitely glad I made my way out to tiny Roslyn, Washington which really had a lot to offer for a town that small. I hope you enjoy these photos as much as I enjoyed taking them.
Leavenworth, Washington is a charming Bavarian town in the mountains of Central Washington State. Originally hunting and fishing grounds for the Yakama, Chinook and Wenatchi tribes, the area wasn’t settled by people of European decent until the end of the 19th century. They came for gold, trees and fur and a small village called Icicle Flats began to grow. It took the name Leavenworth after a Portland based surveyor who laid out the streets. The town would boom and then bust with the arrival and then the departure of the railroad. Struggling to survive after World War II, Leavenworth embarked on a bold journey to create a themed Bavarian-style town with the hope of bringing tourism to town. This took a huge investment of time and money, but today over 3 million visitors come to stroll the village, shop, and enjoy the many dining and entertainment options on offer. Yes, it is touristy and a little silly but in the best possible way. During my visit I saw so many people walk into town with a huge smile on their faces as they left their troubles behind. I know I enjoyed my stay and it’s a town I will definitely return to in the future. Leavenworth is a Bavarian dream in the heart of Chelan County. I hope you enjoy these photos from my visit:
Winthrop is a great little Old West themed town on the east side of the North Cascade Mountains. The area was originally inhabited by the Methow People who made seasonal hunting and fishing camps along the Methow and Chewuch Rivers. In 1891, a man named Guy Waring, who had been a Harvard classmate of Theodore Roosevelt, made a homesteading claim at the confluence of the two rivers and established a trading post. As a town grew up around Waring’s store, they chose the name Winthrop after Major Theodore Woolsey Winthrop who had traveled extensively in Washington (and elsewhere) and was one of the first Union officers killed in the Civil War. Guy Waring irrigated the town, built a sawmill, started a cattle ranch and an apple farm and ran the Duck Brand Saloon in town (now Town Hall) before returning to the east in 1917. Winthrop carried on without him. The town was an early adapter to tourism with several dude ranches opening in the 1930s. When the road through the North Cascades was finally ready to open in 1972, the people of Winthrop adopted a plan to beautify the downtown area with an Old West theme. The result is a fun town that you have to simply have to stop and wander through. I had been to Winthrop before, several years ago, and was looking forward to checking it out again on this trip through. I love the architecture in Winthrop, especially the glistening white Farmers State Bank and the Old Schoolhouse Brewery. The Shafer Museum is also excellent and is mostly outdoors so it is accessible even outside of their business hours. I really enjoyed my stay in Winthrop and the cloudy skies helped portray how chilly it was there in late fall. I hope you enjoy these photos from beautiful downtown Winthrop, Washington’s Old West town.
