Fourth Ward School

Virginia City, United States

Open to visitors

The interior is normally open, possibly ticketed.

Strollie cannot guarantee access — always check before you travel.

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The Fourth Ward School in Virginia City, Nevada, is a four-story Second Empire structure with a mansard roof, designed in 1876 by architect C. M. Bennett at 537 South "C" Street. Built to accommodate over 1,000 students in grades 1 through 9, it was divided into primary, second grammar, and high school departments, and later expanded to include grades 10 and 11. The building featured remarkably advanced amenities for its era: indoor plumbing with flush toilets, hand-washing sinks, drinking fountains, gas lighting, and central heat. After graduating its final class in 1936, the school closed and fell into disrepair until 1986, when it reopened as the Historic Fourth Ward School Museum. The museum now houses exhibits on the Comstock Lode, local history, mining, and Mark Twain, among rotating galleries. The building stands as the last surviving wooden structure of its design and architecture in the United States, and holds the distinction of being a White House-designated "American Treasure." It is a contributing property to the Virginia City Historic District, a National Historic Landmark.

Movement

Second Empire style

Type: museum, school building
Heritage: National Register of Historic Places contributing property
Place: Virginia City, United States

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Location

39.30319, -119.65231