RoadTrip America

Routes, Planning, & Inspiration for Your North American Road Trip

Virginia City, Nevada
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.

Fourth Ward School

Window View

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.

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