The Revitalist

For some here on the east coast, in Boston especially, it is hard to imagine that the western United States could possibly have as rich an architectural and cultural history - but I assure you, it's true!  Living out west for five years, I gained quite an affection for the wide-open spaces - rolling plains and towering mountains - and especially for the State of Montana. 

Last month I spent a delightful week bumming around the western side of the state visiting friends and checking out "archinerd" hot spots like Butte and Virginia City.   

In addition to the lakesSunset on Swan Lake in Bigfork, mountains, Glacier National Park, and all the huckleberries you could want, Montana has an incredible history and some of the most amazing small towns I have had the privilege of visiting.  One of my favorites, Virginia City, is has a remarkable story and while I can't tell it all here, it's a story worth sharing.

Virginia City, a town of about 150 year-round residents, is the west's best-preserved gold mining town (and a National Historic Landmark to boot!), owned by the state and run by the Montana Heritage Commission.  Over 100 buildings and thousands of artifacts provide us with an incredibly intact and well-rounded view of burgeoning communities all over the western United States in the 1860s.  Virginia City sits in Alder Gulch, the site of the most lucrative gold strike in the Rocky Mountains. 

Virginia City Streetscape

Preservation of the community began as far back as 1899 through the Montana Historical Society, and by 1920 it had become quite a tourist attraction.  In the 1940s the Bovey family took on the unusual challenge of preserving this community while interpreting the site to attract tourists.  It wasn't until 1997 that the State of Montana purchased the deteriorated town (and neighboring Nevada City) and formed the Montana Heritage Commission to operate the site, with the goal of preserving and interpreting the site while attaining economic independence.

Virginia City streetscapeInterior of the Dry Goods store
Today the site faces real challenges such as waning funding and trying to balance a short, but intense, tourist season with the needs of full time residents.  My good friend Jeff MacDonald, Lead Preservation Specialist, has started the Virginia City Institute to focus the work of the historic preservation team.  This is the training division of the Montana Heritage Commission, and offers courses for certification in historic preservation and maintenance.  The incredible variety of historic building techniques, including rare and intact wood, masonry and stone buildings, offer a chance for training and for the preservation team on the ground in Virginia City get the help needed help in investigating and preserving these structures.  While this is a unique preservation situation, there are a lot of lessons to be learned.  If any of you have a chance to visit this unbelievable place, don't pass it up!  Be sure and have a beer at the Pioneer, catch the Brewery Follies show at the first brewery in Montana (1863), and grab a sweet roll and check out the beautiful artwork offered at the Metropolitan Market.

Next week: tune in to hear about Montana Preservation Alliance and their work on the Boulder Administration Building in Boulder on the campus of the Montana Developmental Center.