Virginia City is widely known as one of Nevada’s most historic cities. With shop-filled streets that look straight out of the Wild West, this town is a great place to visit to relive Nevada’s early days. One of the most haunting attractions is the town’s cemetery. Perched on a hill overlooking the town, this graveyard looks like it could be the setting of some sort of Victoria-era monster novel. It may look pretty creepy but there’s something tragically beautiful about this place. The graveyard lures you in and the next thing you know, hours have passed! See for yourself the next time you visit this fascinating town.
It's October and that means visiting a creepy old cemetery is a MUST. Looking for the creepiest graveyard of them all? Look no further than Silver Terrace Cemeteries in Virginia City.
Virginia City was the quintessential example of a rough n' tumble mining town. Murder, crime, mining accidents, and disease were rampant. Many people who traveled to this town to get rich ended up dying prematurely...and they were buried right here in Silver Terrace.
The graveyard is actually comprised of several cemeteries overlooking the town of Virginia City. Each person had their own place to be buried on the hillside according to ethnicity, religion, profession, or family. For example, within Silver Terrace you will find a Catholic Cemetery, Mason Cemetery, and a Firemen's Cemetery, among others.
There are hundreds upon hundreds of graves located on the hillside, some appear simple and others appear extravagantly adorned. As you peruse the aisles of headstones, you'll notice that the majority all died before 1920.
There's something both haunting and beautiful about this old cemetery. Complete with wrought iron fences and impressive grave markers, you'll feel as if you've been transported back to the Victorian time period.
As is true with any cemetery, there are reports that Silver Terrace is haunted. A variety of "manifestations" have been witnessed in the graveyard including that of a thin young woman in a brown dress with a velvet collar. Another common spirit that has been seen is that of an unknown male entity wearing a coat, hat, and tie.
Whether you believe in ghosts or not, there's definitely an eerie atmosphere to this old cemetery. Walking through it during the daytime is one thing; just don't get caught here at nighttime!
If you're really itching to see a ghost, be sure to attend one of the ghost tours that Virginia City commonly hosts throughout the year. Otherwise, Silver Terrace Cemeteries makes for a fascinating place to get lost for a few hours. Be sure to visit during your next trip to Virginia City. It's open to the public during the daytime but closes at dusk.
