{"id":906,"featured":0,"modified":"2026-04-17 19:40:10","latitude":45.29371990151128812840397586114704608917236328125,"longitude":-111.940945153675784240476787090301513671875,"title":"Virginia City School","subtitle":"Virginia City National Historic Landmark District","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/a538ed15eeefbc0d7cb94d1e73fec120.jpg","address":"Idaho Street, Virginia City, Montana","all_locations":[],"zoom":16,"creator":["Montana National Register Sign Program"],"description":"Professor Thomas Dimsdale, author of The Vigilantes of Montana, opened the first school in the gold camp in fall 1863. In 1864, a log cabin, built where the Methodist Church now stands, served for preaching on Sundays and school during the week. There were eighty-one registered students. Virginia City School District #1 organized in January 1866, and the first public school in Montana Territory opened in March. Sarah Raymond Herndon, later Madison County superintendent of schools, was the first teacher. She paid $6.00 in “clean gold dust” to take an examination at home earning her teaching certificate. This school opened in January 1876. Designed by Loren Olds, architect of the Madison County Courthouse, the community built the four-room brick school for $8,400. It is one of Montana’s oldest surviving schoolhouses. A 1910 addition accommodated increased enrollment. A severe earthquake in 1959 necessitated the removal of its wooden bell tower and prompted installation of larger windows to the north and south. The school closed its historic doors to the last students in 1976. Today, the building houses City Hall and county offices.","sponsor":null,"accessinfo":"Public","lede":"","website":"","related_resources":["<a href=\"https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/22389964-91bd-4c66-917f-0279004a042e\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Read about Virginia City National Historic Landmark District</a>","<a href=\"https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/e0b9251f-b92e-4e8e-ae20-c0bc3cec7394/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">See photos of Virginia City National Historic Landmark District</a>"],"factoids":[],"files":{"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/a538ed15eeefbc0d7cb94d1e73fec120.jpg":{"id":2296,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Virginia City School","description":"View looking northeast at building facade and side elevation | Courtesy of Montana Heritage Commission | Oct 2019 | Kate Steeley, Montana Heritage Commission","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/a538ed15eeefbc0d7cb94d1e73fec120.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/2559e56ea44cdf25ca1d9fdf73547408.jpg":{"id":3055,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Schoolchildren and Teachers in Virginia City, Montana","description":"View of a large group of children and several adults posed in front of a brick building. Identified as the school in Virginia City, Montana. | PAc 956-300. Montana Historical Society Research Center Photograph Archives, Helena, MT. | ca, 1885 | Ray G. Farrington, photographer","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/2559e56ea44cdf25ca1d9fdf73547408.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/6ee209d46e2540f2b2c6166f3a6ef7d1.jpg":{"id":3056,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Virginia City School, Virginia City, MT.","description":"View of a two story brick building with a two chimneys and a central belfry. Children visible in the yard around the building. The school in Virginia City, Montana. | PAc 97.29-2. Montana Historical Society Research Center Photograph Archives, Helena, MT. | 1919 | Unknown photographer","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/6ee209d46e2540f2b2c6166f3a6ef7d1.jpg"}}}