A Night at the Silver Queen, Virginia City’s Oldest Hotel

, 1 Comment on A Night at the Silver Queen, Virginia City’s Oldest Hotel

When it came to finding a place to stay in Virginia City, I decided we should hang our hats at the town’s oldest operating hotel, the Silver Queen. Built in 1876, the Silver Queen is dubbed such for its towering 16 foot portrait of a woman wearing a dress made up of 3,261 genuine silver dollars. Why 3,261? It honors the deepest mine in Virginia City that was 3,261 feet deep. The portrait looks over a long bar that dates to the 1800s, and the building was once home to Mark Twain who operated his Territorial Enterprises within the walls. Those looking to get hitched can do so by the Pistol Packin’ Preacher inside the small wedding chapel that rests beyond the bar.

Always one for an adventure in unique hotel experiences, I selected room 11, which is said to be haunted by Rosie, a “lady of the night” that reportedly killed herself within the room. Some stories have circulated that she took her life in the bathtub that resides within the room, and I mean, the room, not the bathroom. While we didn’t have any out of the ordinary experiences (it’s said Rosie doesn’t like female guests), others who have stayed in room 11 have reported hearing tapping on their door, whispers, even growling. Additionally, while the hallways have since been carpeted, loud footsteps that sound like they are on wood floors have also been reported.

Exterior of the Silver Queen, a three story brick building with fading text on the upper level that reads "Molinell's Hotel" below the wooden awning reads "Silver Queen"

Myself standing in front of the Silver Queen Hotel wearing a fringe leather jacket, wearing a cream cowboy hat, peach tie dye shirt featuring musician Sierra Ferrell. The sign above me reads "Silver Queen Wedding Chapel Hotel & Saloon See the Silver Queen Dressed in 3,261 Silver Dollars"

View of the bar back with mirrors and steer horns hanging above.

Register for the Silver Queen which is painted to read "Cashier Hotel Registration"

View of the Silver Queen herself, a 16 foot tall portrait of a woman in a dress made up of silver dollars.

Myself standing against the railing of the second floor overlook, wearing a cream cowboy hat, peach tie dye shirt featuring musician Sierra Ferrell.

View looking down the hallway on the first floor.

Room key for Room 11 sits in the lock for the door.

A heart shaped metal headboard rests against a cream wall. The bedspread features a floral stripe pattern of white and maroon. Above the bed hangs a mirror with a gold frame.

A claw foot bathtub sits against a white and yellow wall.

A small dark wood dresser sits against a white wall with a small circular table next to it. Atop the dresser is a cream train case, and on the floor two matching suitcases.

Close-up of a rose design on the window above the door to room 11.

Myself standing with the staircase behind me, wearing a cream cowboy hat, peach tie dye shirt featuring musician Sierra Ferrell.

The second floor opens up to look over the lower floor with a grate over the opening.

Myself leaning against a doorway with a sign that reads "Woman Cave" above, wearing a cream cowboy hat, peach tie dye shirt featuring musician Sierra Ferrell.

Up on the second floor with the railing opening to view the first floor below.

Silhouette of myself going down the stairs.

View of the bar back with mirrors and steer horns hanging above.

Myself standing in front of the Silver Queen portrait.

Tin tiles make up the ceiling of the saloon.

View of the bar back with mirrors and steer horns hanging above.

A large crystal chandelier hangs in the upper right and in the background on the left is the portrait of the silver queen.

Silver leaf letters on a window read "Entrance Silver Queen Hotel"

Exterior view of the hotel with a large silver and purple sign reading "Silver Queen"

If you’re up for spending the night in a potentially haunted room, you can book your stay through the Silver Queen’s website. Not brave enough for a whole night? You can still visit the bar for a sarsaparilla or perhaps something harder at 28 North C Street in Virginia City.

What’s Nearby?

Mackay Mansion

The Way It Was Museum

Sources
“A Sleepless Night at the Silver Queen” Mysterious Destinations Magazine.
Deach, Ben. “Silver State Sights: The Silver Queen Hotel.” KOLO8 ABC, 13 August 2018.
“Silver Queen Hotel.” Travel Nevada.

Leave a Comment!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Having trouble commenting? Contact me

One comment on “A Night at the Silver Queen, Virginia City’s Oldest Hotel”

  1. I went and stayed in that hotel in 2012. It was my boyfriend, granddaughter and myself in one room and my son, his friend and my two young grandsons in room 11. We left a camera, a phone and a tablet recording as we went for a walk downtown. We heard someone trying to open the door, someone took the Bible and was flipping through th pages, the drawers were being yanked open and slammed shut with force. We also heard in a man’s voice say “that is not enough”. The last thing was we had two recorders on a table and one on the dresser which had an alarm go off and you can actually hear the alarm getting louder and louder until it shut off. The recorders were on the opposite sides of the room. We were all sitting in room 11 eating or food when all of a sudden we heard this female blood curdling scream of pure terror. We didn’t get that on a recorder, but it’s something I will never forget.

    Reply