By 1861, Silver City had at least a dozen stores, 4 hotels, 3 blacksmith shops, 2 butcher shops, and a post office, serving a population of more than 1,000 people. An 1864 mercantile guide for the Comstock region described Silver City as a place where "citizens display a refined taste...by the numerous gardens and other external and substantial improvements that they are constantly making...Silver City is fully represented by societies, organizations and social institutions; which for numbers and unity, would be creditable to the reputation of larger cities."
Cultural Re-Population: Although Silver City has roots in the underground mining boom of the 1860s, by the 1950s the town had become a quiet place, a curiosity for passing tourists who saw it as a ghost town. A shift began in the mid 1960s, however, with the arrival of a new wave of residents, and the town's "cultural re-population" continued for the next 5 decades.
May 2017 Display: As part of Nevada's annual, statewide celebration of Historic Preservation and Archaeological Awareness, rare 1970s-80s black and white photographs from the Germino Archive of some of Silver City’s archaeologists, writers, history and culture researchers/consultants, photographers, etc,courtesy of Sam Toll, are on display from May 1- May 31st at the U.S. Post Office in Silver City (270 Main Street, Silver City, Nevada 89428). Silver City is located within the federally designated Comstock Historic Landmark, 3 miles from Virginia City, 12 miles from Carson City and 30 miles from Reno and Lake Tahoe.
Silver City Today: The community of less than 200 people has produced a remarkable body of work during the last 50 years that has had a demonstrably positive impact on the town, the state and beyond. Residents have contributed their diverse skills to produce regionally and nationally recognized work in archaeology; visual art; theater; music; historic preservation; and academic research and projects resulting in a wide range of publications. Many have created hand-crafted items in silver, wood, gemstones, etc. and examples can be found in diverse places, from the Smithsonian American Art Museum to the region's historic cemeteries, homes and buildings. Accordingly, in 2014 the Silver City Advisory Board resolved to recognize the existing character of Silver City as an "Arts and Cultural Resources Production Center", and formally recognized the considerable work residents have contributed and continue to contribute to the production of important work in the areas of arts and cultural resources. The Board also formally recognized the extraordinary support the entire community has given and continues to give to local arts and cultural resources production, events, and programming. Today the town has active arts and historic preservation groups, an outdoor performance stage, plus a resident artist program and a summer arts and science program.
Silver City Historical Markers
There are several State Historical Markers in Silver City, including State Historical Marker #264 at the School House at 385 High Street. Although fire destroyed the original 1867 School House in 2004, a lovely community center was built in 2007 in the same location, with materials from the original building incorporated into the new structure. The new building closely resembles the old School House in size and architectural style. In 2007, Silver City residents were rewarded for their work on an archaeological dig at the School House site with a historic preservation award from the Nevada State Historic Preservation Office. The award honored the lead archaeologist for the project, long time Silver City resident Ron Reno, Ph.D, and the entire town of Silver City for their retrieval of thousands of artifacts associated with the remains of the 1860s school house.
Look for additional historic markers at Devil's Gate, across from the U.S. Post Office on Main Street (Grosh Brothers), etc. Find a complete list of Nevada historical markers online at:
oiccam.com/reno/historical_markers/nvmarkers/county.htm
Additionally, on Main Street (SR 342) not far from the U.S. Post Office, you will notice the historical Silver City Fire House, Masonic Amity Lodge #4 (Charter established in 1863), as well as remains of what was once known as Bonanza House on the corner of Main and SR 342.
For more information, contact Quest Lakes at the Resident Artist Program in Silver City (775) 847-0742.
To find more Preservation Month events in Nevada, see
http://shpo.nv.gov/get-involved/nevadas-historic-preservation-and-archaeological-awareness-month
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