VIRGINIA CITY, Nev. (July 16, 2014)—Virginia City, Nev., located 25 minutes from the Reno-Tahoe International Airport, takes its most popular hashtag and brings it to life with Flashback Fridays Free Museum Day. Seventeen museums are located within this small historic Comstock town and on the first Friday of the month of Aug. 1, Sept. 5 and Oct. 3, all are open free.

“The responses to our weekly Facebook and Twitter Flashback Friday posts are tremendous and as a community steeped in history, we thought, 'how can we leverage this to educate our visitors,' and this event was born,” Deny Dotson, tourism director for the Virginia City Tourism Commission, said. “We also know that during our large events when the town is packed, our museums are often overlooked. We wanted to create an event just for these important attractions and provide an opportunity for visitors to learn about the Comstock. And it's working.” Two Flashback Fridays have taken place and nearly 1,000 have participated.

During each Flashback Friday, visitors pick up a free map at the Visitors Center. Each museum stamps the map and when all 17 museums are stamped, the map can be returned to the Visitors Center where participants receive an 8" x 10" framed Flashback Friday photo of Virginia City dating back to the 1870s. Kids 12 and younger receive a Comstock Kids Kit.

“Visiting all 17 museums can be a challenge, we know,” Dotson said. “So from August to October, visit any of our museums at any time and have the map stamped. Complete it by Oct. 3, and you'll receive the framed historic photo.” Free admission valid only during the Flashback Friday Free Museum days. 

While the museums are free on the first Friday of the month, August – October, donations are encouraged as each relies on contributions and membership to remain open.

Participating museums include: Comstock Gold Mill; Comstock History Center; Fourth Ward School; The Gold Hill Hotel; Julia Bulette Red Light Museum; LEC #1 Comstock Firemen's Museum; The Mackay Mansion; Mark Twain Museum at the Territorial Enterprise; The Marshall Mint Museum; Piper's Opera House; Saint Mary's in the Mountains Catholic Church & Museum; Silver State National Peace Officers Museum; Silver Terrace Cemetery; St. Mary's Art Center; Storey County Courthouse; The Washoe Club Haunted Museum; and The Way It Was Museum.

For more information visit Virginia City Flashback Friday Free Museum Days. For general information on Virginia City, Nev., visit www.visitvirginiacitynv.com or call the Virginia City Tourism Commission (VCTC) at 775-847-7500.

A short 30-minute drive from the Reno-Tahoe International Airport takes visitors to one of the largest historic districts in the United States - Virginia City, Nev. Come experience this mining “boomtown” as it was in the 1800's. Step back in time while visiting the numerous historic buildings, saloons, churches and museums or take a mine tour or even ride a real steam train. The Comstock Adventure Passes offer the best value with discounted attraction packages.  For lodging, event calendar or Comstock Adventure Passes, visit online or call 775-847-7500. The Visitor Information Center is located at 86 South C Street, Virginia City.

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