Virginia City Adventure: An Introduction

Research!
 
I had an unexpected adventure at the end of July. I’d made an appointment to tour the Marjorie Russell Clothing & Textile Research Center in Carson City. My plan was to go up one day (a 4-hour drive), meet with Jan Loverin, the curator and main researcher of the Center for a few hours, spend the night in a Motel 6, then return to the Bay Area the next morning.
 
But Virginia City kept calling to me.
 
The map said it was only a 20-minute drive from Carson City to Virginia City. Why should I stay in a Motel 6 when, with a bit of effort, I could experience the Old West? I explored hotels (bless the internet) and ended up with a hotel reservation in (supposedly) the oldest hotel in Nevada. Since I was able to choose my room, I picked the (supposedly) haunted room #4 with a name: Rosie’s Room.
 
My plan was to meet with Jan, then go to Virginia City and spend a night in the (supposedly) haunted and oldest hotel in Nevada, tool around Virginia City the next morning, then drive home to arrive by the evening.
 
But Virginia City kept calling to me.
 
There was so much to see! The mill, the mine, the Washoe Club (featured on Ghost Adventures), the museums, the wild horses. By that evening on the first day, my plan stayed the same, but I figured I’d see only a few things then be back soon to see all that I’d missed.
 
I went to bed in my (supposedly) haunted room in a hotel that was deserted. I was (supposedly) the only soul in the building. The front doors weren’t locked, though my room had three locks on it—a deadbolt, a chain, and a slide lock.
 
I didn’t sleep well. Kept waking up every hour or so, on high alert for noises and bumps in the dark. Even though I didn’t see anything, feel anything, or really hear anything, I never fell into a deep sleep.
 
There was nothing left to do but change my plans. Given the non-sleep I’d had, it would be dangerous to drive home, especially if I ended up driving at night. Besides, ​you know, there was just so much to see in Virginia City. So, I did the responsible thing and indulged in a whole day of research: the Comstock Gold Mill, 4th Ward Museum, a tour of the Chollar Mine, the Way It Was Museum, a ghost tour at the Old Washoe Club, and a bit of shopping.
 
I also booked an extra night at the (supposedly) oldest hotel in Nevada.
 
I did, however, change rooms.
 
Stay tuned for my next post on my Virginia City Adventure!
 
Links to some resources:
Nevada State Museum & Marjorie Russell Clothing & Textile Research 
Virginia City Visitor Information
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