From Dillion to Livingston we passed 3 interesting historical sites: Robber's Roost, Nevada City and Virginia City.
Robber's Roost is simply an old station that the stages used to stop at. Story has it that the Sheriff and some of his men would scope out the travelers as they rested at the hotel, assessing their potential wealth. If someone came through that looked like a good target they would alert their comrades, the bad guys, who would then waylay the stage the next day and relieve the traveler of their wealth. It was never really proved to be the case.
Robber's Roost
The next stop was Nevada City where we learned about a wealthy visionary named Charles Bovey who was a collector of old buildings and their contents. Back in the 1930's and 40's he began buying buildings; lock, stock, and barrel, and moving them to Nevada and Virginia Cities. Folks donated buildings to his cause so that the buildings would be preserved instead of demolished or ruined by the elements. Nevada City is more of a tourist trap with a museum, train station, cabins to stay in, and a few places to eat. Virginia City is a main street lined with old buildings, some of them are businesses catering to tourists and many are mini museums where you can look back in time, seeing original, pristine, authentic goods that were purchased by Mr. Bovey. We talked to a volunteer who comes each summer to work in the buildings. She was folding period clothing that was brand new for display in a clothing store. She said they have buildings full of stuff to stock the museum buildings with, much of it new and in the box. I think it is very cool that a wealthy person leaves this kind a historical legacy for so many people to learn from and enjoy. I recommend Virginia City to anyone visiting Montana!
Hotel balcony in Nevada City
Stagecoach in Virginia City
View inside an old store, all goods are originals and in perfect condition.
View of the back side of some of the buildings.
Many of you already know that those two little buildings are the old outhouses, but the one in the center is special. It is a double decker outhouse that was once connected to the 2nd story of the old hotel. Guests did not have to go all the way downstairs to GO!
Too late for this recommendation, but maybe another time: Bannock State Park in MT (the night before we went over Lemhi Pass, we camped there). It's a really cool ghost town - pretty much in tact, but preserved as they buildings were abandoned - peeling wallpaper, sagging ceilings, the old gallows, jail, etc. There were some real bad-asses running the town - thieves, crooks, and outlaws serving as the town leaders. Good ol' wild west!
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