VIRGINIA CITY - In 1877, silver was getting all the attention in Virginia City. But the human story was being played out on C Street in the commercial center of town.
A bill for a burial from Kitzmeyer and Kenny Funeral Directors itemizes the cost of the coffin and the horse and buggy to haul it. Further down, a livery stable shared a roof with a hardware store and the Nevada Bank of San Francisco, which eventually squeezed out the Bank of California.
"Every building has a story," said Joe Curtis, Virginia City historian. "The business center was the heart of this community."
Visitors on Saturday will have a chance to hear that story on the Fourth Ward School's "Main Vein" guided walking tours of C Street. Portions of businesses not normally open to the public will be featured. Afterward, visitors can hold up a glass and toast history at a wine tasting with appetizers from area chefs.
The Fourth Ward School has been classified as an American Historic Treasure, putting it in the same category as the Washington Monument and the Star Spangled Banner.
The tours, which will be limited to 15 people, will begin at 9 a.m. and last around 1-1/2 hours.
Curtis, who grew up on the Comstock and owns Mark Twain's Bookstore on C Street, has produced a special 1877 guide for the occasion. Curtis has been collecting information for more than 30 years on C Street businesses from the 1860s through the 1920s. A few copies will be auctioned off at the wine tasting.
The idea for showcasing the historic business strip had been brewing for some time, according to Preiss. The Victorian homes and garden tours, while popular, had been done for several years. This year the Sutro Tunnel, last year's smash hit tour, was closed.
"We sat down and said, hey, we've got all this research," said Preiss. "Let's put it together and pick a year that would show C Street the way it really was. Let's take people back in time by showing them these photos while they're standing in the same place."
Docents will include an architectural historian, a former UNR faculty member, and an author of several Nevada history books.
Rich Moreno, publisher of Nevada Magazine, said it's fun to compare the photos with what's standing today.
"It's not like taking pictures of downtown Las Vegas, Fremont Street, and nothing's there anymore," Moreno said. "The building where Mark Twain worked is still there."
If you go
What: Tours of Virginia City's historic businesses
When: 9 a.m. Saturday
Where: Meet at Fourth Ward School
Cost: $17 in advance, $20 day of, $5 for 12 and under. A combination price for both the tour and the wine tasting is $35 in advance, $40 day of.
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