HCN will be bringing volunteers to Virginia City, Montana, for the third consecutive year to support the Montana Heritage Commission’s continuing efforts to restore the 19th century mining town. Virginia City sits high in the Rocky Mountains (elevation 5,882 feet / 1793 meters) at the site of a large gold strike made in Alder Gulch in 1863. Within a year the town grew to a population of 10,000, and it served as the Territorial Capital from 1865-1875. Today, with just 150 full time residents, the town remains an exceptional example of commercial and residential architecture from the late 1800s; adding to the uniqueness, many of the buildings contain original artifacts.
Built from a range of materials, including brick, log, and milled lumber, each building in town poses its own preservation challenges. The 2008 workshop will focus on the Susan Marr House, a contributing structure to Virginia City’s National Historic Landmark district.
The Susan Marr house is locally known as “the worst looking house with the best looking yard”. It is not far from the Dr Daems residence, where HCN volunteers worked in 2007. Highlighting the great backlog of work facing the Montana Heritage Commission and the Virginia City Institute, the building has been in a state of advancing decay for the past 60 years. Fortunately, all the house’s walls, room configurations and chimneys remain intact, though the roof has more or less disappeared. The challenge for participants at this year’s workshop may include restoring the roof pitch utilizing the existing gables and shoring the entire structure for future work. The exact nature of the work will be determined once warm weather returns to the region.
During this one-week workshop, much of the work will require climbing and working from scaffolding, and some basic understanding of construction technology would be helpful, though specific experience is not required. Work will be led by Jeff MacDonald, head of The Virginia City Institute for Preservation Research & Technology. Instruction will be in English.
The goal of the workshop is to demonstrate a variety of approaches to mitigating critical stabilization issues; participants’ efforts will also go a long way to ensuring the survival of the Susan Marr house.
Instruction will take place from 8:30am-5pm, Monday through Friday, though participants should plan to arrive in Virginia City the day before. This workshop differs from other HCN workshops in that participants are responsible for their own lodging and meals. The workshop fee covers only workshop materials, instruction, and insurance. There are a number of bed and breakfast accommodations in and around Virginia City. A list of lodging options will be emailed upon request. Additional information is available from the Montana Heritage Commission, which coordinates preservation efforts in both Virginia City and nearby Nevada City.
If arriving by air, the nearest major airport is in Bozeman. International participants can plan to fly via Denver International Airport. Participants may want to arrive early to settle in and tour Virginia City and become familiar with its intriguing history. A course agenda will be emailed following registration with supplemental information on the greater Virginia City area. Virginia City is less than 100 miles from Yellowstone National Park and a number of other natural and historic sites.
Summer in Montana brings daytime high temperatures from the upper 70s F (25 C) to the low 90s (32 C) and overnight lows in the 40s F (8 C). Due to the high altitude, temperatures cool off rapidly in the evening so bring attire suitable for the weather that will also be protective while working. Sturdy shoes, water bottles, insect repellant and sunscreen are recommended. Please be conscious that safety is an important issue at any work site.
If you need additional information, please contact us at workshops@heritageconservation.net or call +1 303-444-0128.
Cost: $425* Does NOT include lodging or meals
* Plus transportation to the site
If you find the restoration effort in Virginia City intriguing but are unable to attend the workshop, you can still participate by supporting our conservation efforts with a tax-deductible donation to HCN.