Virginia City was born with the discovery of gold in Alder Gulch in 1863. A boom town of the post Civil War era, Virginia City served as the Montana Territorial Capital for 10 years, until the gold ran out. Just a mile away lies Nevada City, a western town created from a collection of buildings from other ghost towns. Both towns have been largely restored and preserved and have become living examples of the real Old West. One hundred fifty buildings have been certified authentic by the Montana Historical Society. Original buildings, dating from the Territorial days, are filled with merchandise and implements used when gold camps flourished in the West. Boardwalks, mechanical music machines, a penny arcade, antique automobiles and even a two-story outhouse add to the Old West atmosphere. This section of Gold West Country offers many opportunities to relive the adventure of gold rush days. Virginia City's Grand Victorian Ball for Peace 1865 is held in August. Events include a Grand Ball where guests attend in period costume. The Opera House features the Virginia City Players' productions in the style of 19th-century. Virginia City offers the oldest continuously operating summer stock theater west of the Mississippi. Check with the Chamber of Commerce for a schedule of shows. In Virginia City, you can shop, dine and sleep without leaving the atmosphere of the 1860s. Dine in the Star Bakery and bend an elbow in the Bale of Hay Saloon. Relax with a libation at Montana's first brewery, the H. S. Gilbert Brewery, and enjoy a performance of the Brewery Follies Players. Modern accommodations in a charming, 19th-century atmosphere are available. You will find fascinating nuggets of history and memories to treasure. The majestic Madison River Valley, just west of Virginia City, features some of the world's finest trout streams, as well as a beautiful mountain backdrop. Elevation: 5,882 feet