Chinatown

There was a famine in China in the late 1860's and many Chinese were anxious to come to America. The Central Pacific Railroad imported thousands of Chinese to work on railroad construction and when it was finished in 1869, they were laid off. Many became miners and established laundry businesses. There was a population of 500-1000 Chinese in this area in the 1880's, many living in Junction and the lower area of Virginia City.

Charlie Bovey built Chinatown, in 1972, as a memorial to this almost forgotten element of the west. Nearly all the Chinese artifacts came from the same place, the Wah Chong Tai Company of Butte, Montana, and were purchased in 1946.

Chinese Miner's Cabin

There is a marvelous collection of Chinese buildings and goods, including a family shrine. This miner's cabin has a fenced area used as their pigpen next to the front door. It was customary for the Chinese to keep their animals near the front door so that they would not be stolen.

Special acknowledgements to: John D. Ellingsen.