BOOMTOWN TO OUTDOOR MUSEUM:

This book presents a study of Nevada City, Montana
to examine the eligibility potential for a historic
district nomination to the National Register of
Historic Places (NRHP). Founded in 1863, Nevada City
experienced a gold mining heyday from 1863-1869. As
easily attainable placers diminished and strikes
were reported elsewhere, the town was nearly
abandoned. Many of the remaining buildings were
demolished, used for firewood, or salvaged by Nevada
City''s remaining residents. Senator Charles Bovey
began preservation work in 1944 at nearby Virginia
City, Montana. In the late 1950s Bovey was asked to
remove his "Old Town" exhibit from the Great Falls
fairgrounds. He purchased several acres of land
containing what remained of Nevada City and began
relocating buildings to Nevada City''s vacant lots in
1958. The collection of original, relocated, and
reconstructed buildings were intended to represent
the 1860s-1900 period of Montana s history. In 1997
the State of Montana purchased Bovey''s Nevada City
and Virginia City properties and artifacts to
continue the preservation and tourist legacy begun
in 1944.