Montana: Nevada City, Enjoy Outdoor Living History All Summer Long. 
Beginning in June families can relive the excitement of the Gold Rush era in Montana and catch the train from Nevada City to Virginia City.
I have often weighed in on the benefits of sharing
living history with your kids. The truth is I am a kid at heart so pretending with my kids has always been a double bonus for me - making memories while learning. Our best experiences include
Henricus, Springfield, Williamsburg, Kings Landing, Conner Prairie, and
Moose Jaw. The number and quality of options have increased in the last few years and I am thrilled about the trend and am happy to convey the news about the summer long, outdoor living history program in Nevada City- “Stepping into Montana's Past”.
Here’s the scoop. The Outdoor Living History Museum in Nevada City is home to one of the largest collections of Old West artifacts outside the Smithsonian. The museum and living history complex includes 100 buildings dating from 1863 to early 1900s. During the summer months - Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend- more than 70 living history, costumed interpreters convey to visitors a sense of an earlier time providing the perfect chance for families to pretend for awhile.
Scenes based on local history. Within the complex visitors have the chance to walk the same boardwalks once used by pioneers and often patrolled by vigilantes while living history actors provide vignettes of the past. Each of the staged events has been researched and vetted in order to accurately convey moments in Montana’s history.
Bonus points: Even better than watching is doing so to add to the experience there’s the chance to ride the stagecoach or attend a live theater.
Go where the past meets the present. The Nevada City living history experience includes sights, sounds, aromas, and interactive experiences. It is possible to assist one of our historic trade’s people in one of the General Mercantile stores; do the laundry for a bit; talk with a saloon keeper; attend a short school session; work with a blacksmith; practice spinning or weaving; help prepare a meal on a wood stove.Interpreters speak and act in the first person relating facts about the life of the Alder Gulch character they are portraying.
Bonus points: I
nterpretation also extends to Virginia City, look for The Montana Post printing press in operation, and American Telegraphy. The programs offered by the Montana Heritage Commission are not equaled anywhere else in the West.
Listen to the music or enjoy a tea cake. Nevada City’s Music Hall has a collection of historic music machines, gaviolis and player pianos possibly the largest music machine collection in the world open to the public. Enjoy comfort-food dining and sample scrumptious old-fashioned recipes offered at the bakery; stay the night in homey historic lodging; browse gift and specialty shops.
Bonus points: For children there are unique programs, interpretive talks and games typical of Victorian frontier days.
Ride the rails. Riding the train with a youngster is a blast. Like the nostalgia of an antique carousel, riding the rails is living history which requires participation – the best Kind. In southwestern Montana Alder Gulch Short Line (30-inch narrow gauge rail) connects passengers with the past as they travel the one and a half-mile mainline between Virginia City and Nevada City.
Bonus points: At the Nevada City terminus sits Alder Gulch Short Line Steam Railroad Museum with a collection of equipment and artifacts from a time when the railroad was king.
www.virginiacitymt.comLocation on the planet: Nevada City Open Air Museum 300 1/2 West Wallace Street Virginia City, MT 59755. (406) 843-5247, toll-free 1-800-829-2969. The site is located 1 1/2 miles from Virginia City on Highway 287. The nearest airport is at either Butte or Bozeman, both 80 miles from Nevada City.
Nevada City Open Air Museum Make it happen. Gold West Country For FREE Gold West travel information call toll-free 1-800-879-1159. Visitor Information Center 1105 Main Street, Deer Lodge, MT 59722 or go to
GoldWest Country Content researched and written by Nancy Nelson-Duac, Editor FTF. Images provided by Nevada City Open Air Museum and Alder Gulch Railway. Copyright 2011.
