Top 10 True Western Towns of 2009
Given to towns that have made an important contribution to preserving their pasts.
By: 01/01/2009
Virginia City, Montana, which became the territorial capital in 1865, is one of the oldest and most intact gold rush-era settlements in the nation. Today, the Montana Heritage Commission protects most of the district’s more than 200 structures. This “living laboratory” has made it the perfect backdrop for the historic preservation certificate training programs offered by the Virginia City Institute.
Not surprisingly, if you have folks around who offer technical support to other towns on historic preservation maintenance problems, then you also have an incredibly smart bunch that uses the most innovative stabilization techniques and specialized tools, combined with a high understanding of preservation ethics, saving historic Virginia City.
Mind you, this city has only 150 year-round residents. So the heritage commission folks and lead preservationist Jeff MacDonald recruit volunteers from the international Heritage Conservation Network to restore this 19th-century mining town. The society is working extensively on the oldest block in town (lower Wallace Street): restoring the McGovern Store, the Kramer Dress Shop and the Westin Hotel. And the town is recruiting volunteers to help stabilize the roof pitch and shore the structure of gold rush resident Susan Marr’s home, known locally as “the worst looking house with the best looking yard.”
For the upcoming year, city planners will be looking into stabilizing the state’s oldest brewery, the Gilbert Brewery established in 1863, to protect the area’s historic structures.
The gold quickly panned out after the 1863 discovery. Then, 135 years later, the owner of the city’s historic structures was forced to sell. Luckily, the state found the millions needed to purchase the buildings, and the town is a labor of love to this day. Located 60 miles northwest of Yellowstone Park, Virginia City remains architecturally frozen to its 1800s past—which warms our hearts to no end. Thank you Montana and your incredible team of stewards and preservationists.
Comments (2)
The city should make the downtown historic district more western all year long, that is what the tourists want to come and enjoy, just like Jackson Hole area. Wood sidewalks, old storefronts renewed, take down the horrible siding on all those old building and make it historic and western as much as possible. Pull all the businesses together and make a true western downtown. You don't have to all sell western items, just make the buildings western. You have a GREAT start with the Train Depot and surrounding areas!! Keep up the PLAN!! or MAKE A PLAN!! Cheyenne could be a truly great small city and as the State Capital SHOULD have a GREAT DOWNTOWN!!
Sir:
My Son is coming home from Iraq in, about one year. BUT in early July he is coming on leave to look your area over for a possible place to live, get married and raise a family. We will be in WYOMING in the 1st few days of July. Have you got any info that might help him
He has been Special Forces and, I suppose Police work is what he wants.
I am in California but I am not a
"Californian". 707-259-0949 or
wes.mac@comcast.net or P O Box 294.
Yountville, California 94599. WES MAC
Mc Girr
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