Nevada‘s Silver Rush: A Driving Tour from South Lake Tahoe to Virginia City

The mineral-rich towns that were at the center of Nevada‘s Silver Rush are watched over by the striking Sierra Nevada mountains. On this driving tour from South Lake Tahoe to Virginia City, you’ll travel back in time to the second half of the 1800s to find out how silver changed these towns’ fortunes forever.

Starting in California, a short drive from the state line, this tour crosses high over Kingsbury Grade, and drops down into Douglas County, Nevada. Dramatically framed by the Carson Range of the Sierra Nevada, this county is home to the quaint town of Genoa, one of Nevada‘s first permanent settlements. From Genoa, you‘ll drive through Carson City, the state‘s capital, and pass one of Nevada‘s oldest towns, Silver City, before finishing our tour in the charming silver rush town of Virginia City.

Along the way, you‘ll hear the history of California‘s Gold Rush and Nevada‘s Silver Rush. I’ll also tell you about the difficult working conditions these miners faced, including extreme temperatures and poison gases. You‘ll also find out about The San Francisco Mining Exchange, a regional stock exchange, and its significance to the Silver Rush.

As you drive and enjoy the ever-changing landscape of western Nevada, you‘ll have the opportunity to:

• Hear how Mark Twain worked in the Nevada silver mines and mills before making it big as a newspaper writer and author
• Discover how the Comstock Lode got its name
• Visit Mormon Station State Historic Park in Genoa
• See the Nevada Governor‘s Mansion and the impressive Dwaine Bliss Mansion in Carson City
• Stop at the Capitol Complex to visit the Nevada State Capitol Building
• Find out how engineer Philip Diedesheimer solved one of the biggest challenges faced by mine constructors, with his invention of Square Set Timbering
• Stroll along the sidewalks of the quaint towns of Genoa and Virginia City
• Learn how, if only the Sutro Tunnel were built, it could have warded off the biggest mining disaster during the Nevada Silver Rush, at the Yellow Jacket Mine in1869
• Opportunity to tour the Chollar Mine, a real silver mine in Virginia City
• Visit the Nevada State Railroad Museum, and take a ride on the Virginia & Truckee Railroad in Carson City

By the end of this tour, you‘ll have gained an understanding of the historical moments that shaped this industry and Nevada’s Silver Rush while driving through the sparkling landscape of the Silver State.

This 50-mile driving tour can be completed in about 2 hours without any stops. On the other hand, this is your adventure. You may stop where you want, when you want, and for as long as you want. Take in a meal, visit a museum, or do some shopping. It‘s up to you!

Parking fees aren‘t included in the price of this tour. For more detailed information about the stops on this tour please see “Places to stop along the way”. Please review the “Precautions” section for important information on driving and hiking. This is one of five VoiceMap driving tours I‘ve written that explore the area in and around Lake Tahoe.

Voice acting credit: Thomas William‘s Merchant lawyer, Sam Brown desperado, Judge Richard Allen, and Mark Twain by Brandon Baumann