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Board Walk, Virginia City, Montana

Virginia City, typical pioneer gold mining camp ofontana Territory, exploded into being in 1863 when

Bill Fairweather and five partners struck pay dirt inAlder Gulch and got color in the pan that looked athough King Midas had sifted the gravel through hisfingers. In no time at all this colorful frontiet townbecame the metropolis and capital of the Territory. Itseethed with activity, glamour, virtue and vice untilVigilantes overtook road agents with informal justice andall organized crime was literally suspended.

After placer mining subsided, Virginia City drowsedand dreamed of past glory and excitement. But rece~t1y

the historic old town has taken on new vigor and allure.Modern visitors, and they are legion drive in on StateHighway 34 and find that they can live in an authenticatmosphere of the old VvTest come to life. They can visitthe general store, the dressmaker's shop, the Wells FargoExpre s office, the livery stable, the old barber shop,the oldest Montana brewery, and the nationally knownMemorial Museum.

Thursday nights at the Well Fargo Coffee Housethe renowned Virginia City Players entertain with acabaret sho\v at the Smorgasbord Dinner (reservationsneeded). All other nights during the summer season,this professional theatrical troupe features 19th CenturyDrama at the Virginia City Playhouse.

Bale of Hay Varieties

Fairweather Inn - Registration Headquarters

This ummer, in cooperation with the Virginia CityPlay r , the Univer ity of Montana again i pon ~oring

accredited cour e in 19th Century Dranla.The huttlecraft Guild, internationally known hand

weaving in titution, has pick~d Virginia City as it year­round headquarter, and is now permanently locatedthere.

n added feature thi unlmer, from July 16th thruAugu t 3rd, is a pottery work hop for adults, pon oredby the R gional rt Roundup of fontana State ni­ver ity, under the direction of Thelma Chase.

Virginia City is only a 20-nlinute drive fronl twofanlous trout streanls-the 11adison and Ruby River.

Make Virginia City, Montana, a must on youritinerary. It is the greatest opportunity in thepresent West to see and be a part of the old Westwhere men were men and women were scarce.

The Fairweather Inn, with its wonderful com­bination of early day decor and modern con­venience, is registration and information centerfor all visitors. Spacious, comfortable, moderncabins are also available and excellent meals areserved" at the Wells Fargo Coffee House.

Phone Virginia City 68 for hotel or cabinreservations.