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Offered languages
- English
- English
Drive the road to Nevada’s Silver Rush with a GPS-triggered audio guide that plays automatically as you go. From South Lake Tahoe, climb the Kingsbury Grade for sweeping views over the Carson Valley, then follow prospectors, gunslingers and a young Mark Twain through Genoa (Nevada’s first settlement), Carson City, Silver City and Gold Hill to the boardwalks of Virginia City, the boomtown built on the Comstock Lode.
Voice actors play a frontier lawyer, a desperado, a judge and Mark Twain himself. Hear how the Comstock got its name, how miners worked deep underground and why the Sutro Tunnel came too late.
Great value: a guided day trip to Virginia City usually costs $70-80 per person. This tour is one low price for your whole car (up to 15 people).
Download the VoiceMap app the night before so it works offline. Daytime is best and you can pause any time. Do the Stops if you like (admission is separate) or simply drive past. It’s your choice!
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
This tour starts at the Starbucks parking lot (4000 South Lake Tahoe Blvd).
This tour ends at the public parking lot of the Virginia City Visitor Center.
Itinerary
-
South Lake Tahoe (Pass by)
our tour starts at Town Center in South Lake Tahoe. As you drive through Stateline, hear how casinos rose along the California-Nevada border, and how a lakeside resort grew from the trails that carried fortune seekers east to the silver mines.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Climb the Kingsbury Grade, an 1860s toll road built for wagons and freight heading to the Comstock mines. Near the summit, the road opens onto sweeping views over the Carson Valley before winding down past the old Van Sickle Station.
Admission ticket free -
1Genoa
Genoa is Nevada’s oldest settlement, founded as a trading post in 1851. Take a slow drive or short walk through this tiny, tree-lined town, with its historic buildings, old courthouse and the Pink House, and hear how it served pioneers heading west.
10 minutes • Admission ticket free -
2Mormon Station State Historic Park
See the reconstructed stockade and trading post where Genoa began in 1851. The small museum shows how emigrants on the California Trail stocked up here before crossing the Sierra. The grounds are a pleasant spot to stretch your legs. PLEASE NOTE: Admission is not included.
30 minutes • Admission ticket not included -
3Nevada State Railroad Museum
See restored locomotives and carriages from the Virginia & Truckee Railroad, which once hauled silver ore and timber between the Comstock and Carson City. A great optional stop for families and train fans. PLEASE NOTE: Admission is not included.
45 minutes • Admission ticket not included -
Carson City (Pass by)
Nevada’s capital was named for the explorer Kit Carson and grew rich on Comstock silver. The audio guides you past the Capitol, museums and historic mansions packed into a few walkable blocks, with stories of the lawyers, judges and politicians who shaped the state.
Admission ticket free -
4Nevada State Capitol Building
Built in 1871 and crowned with a silver-colored dome, the Capitol is the heart of Carson City. Step inside to see the historic chambers and portraits of Nevada’s governors, and hear why Nevada calls itself the Battle Born State.
20 minutes • Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Drive past the Nevada Governor's Mansion, a grand residence that has housed the state's governors throughout history.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Drive past the home of Orion Clemens, Secretary of Nevada Territory and older brother of Samuel Clemens. Sam followed Orion west in 1861, tried his luck at mining, and soon began writing for a Virginia City newspaper under the name Mark Twain.
Admission ticket free -
5Nevada State Museum
This museum is housed in the former Carson City Mint, where Comstock silver was struck into coins bearing the famous CC mark. Inside you’ll find the original coin press, a replica mine and exhibits on Nevada’s natural history. PLEASE NOTE: Admission is not included.
45 minutes • Admission ticket not included -
Silver City (Pass by)
Leave the valley and climb toward the Comstock through Silver City, once a busy mining camp with mills, saloons and boarding houses. Today it’s a quiet village, but the audio brings back the noise and bustle of the boom years.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Pass by Devil's Gate, a geological formation that adds intrigue to the landscape along your driving route.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Drive through Gold Hill, another historic mining town that contributes to the rich tapestry of Nevada's mining history.
Admission ticket free -
6Virginia & Truckee Railroad
Ride a historic train on the Virginia & Truckee line between Virginia City and Gold Hill, a short scenic trip along tracks that once carried the riches of the Comstock. PLEASE NOTE: Seasonal schedule. Tickets are not included.
45 minutes • Admission ticket not included -
Virginia City (Pass by)
Park and stroll C Street’s wooden boardwalks, lined with saloons, shops and museums. Hear about the newspaper where Mark Twain got his start, the gunfights and the fortunes made and lost, and how the Comstock Lode got its name.
Admission ticket free -
7
Head underground on a guided walk into the Chollar Mine, one of the Comstock’s major silver mines. See the square-set timbering that let miners dig deeper than ever before, a Comstock invention covered in the audio. PLEASE NOTE: Tour tickets are not included.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free -
Historic Fourth Ward School Museum (Pass by)
Drive past the Historic Fourth Ward School Museum, a well-preserved schoolhouse that offers insights into Nevada's educational history.
Admission ticket free -
(Pass by)
Drive by the Mackay Mansion Museum, a historic landmark associated with one of Nevada's prominent mining magnates.
Admission ticket free -
St. Mary in the Mountains Catholic Church (Pass by)
See Saint Mary In the Mountains, a historic church that stands as a testament to Virginia City's religious heritage.
Admission ticket free -
Virginia City Visitor Center (Pass by)
End your tour at the Virginia City Visitor Center, a hub of information and resources for visitors exploring the historic town.
Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- This 50-mile driving tour can be completed in about 2 hours without any stops.
Additional info
- Wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- This 50-mile driving tour can be completed in about 2 hours without any stops.
- You may stop where you want, when you want, and for as long as you want.
- You can take this tour at any time, but daytime hours are best for this tour.
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Rating
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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