The
Fourth Ward School is a reamarkable historical treasure.
It was the first school west of the Mississippi to boast indoor
plumbing. Built in 1876, it could accommodate a thousand students.
Now a museum, the Fourth Ward School offers visitors a look
into the lives of Comstock miners and their families.
The
view from an upstairs classroom reveals the remains of the
Combination Mine, the deepest shaft dug on the Comstock. It
reached a depth of 3260 feet, cost over $7 million to build,
and pumped 5 million gallons of naturally heated water a day.
Geothermic activity was one of the biggest challenges facing
Comstock mining operations.
