Historic Fourth Ward School Museum & Archives

10/16/2026

Join us for a hauntingly elegant evening of Victorian charm, dancing, and spooky surprises inside the historic 1876 Fourth Ward Schoolhouse at the All Hallows' Eve Victorian Ball!

Saturday, October 24, 2026 | 7–10 p.m. | Historic Fourth Ward School Museum, Virginia City, Nevada

Dress in your finest Victorian attire or your most creative spooky costume and enjoy an evening of dancing, refreshments, a costume contest, a 50/50 raffle, and a silent auction featuring unique items and experiences. Explore the museum after dark while helping preserve one of Nevada’s most treasured historic landmarks!

🎟️ Get your tickets and join the festivities by visiting our website!

For sponsorships or auction donations, contact the Historic Fourth Ward School Museum & Archives at (775) 847-0975.

Come for the history, stay for the haunting—and help us preserve this remarkable piece of Nevada’s past!

10/15/2026

Submissions are now open for the Comstock Film Festival, and you can see previous entrants on our YouTube channel, including The Note of Sutro, Crime Shaft, and The Mine's Terror!

The 2026 Comstock Film Festival is just around the corner, inviting young filmmakers ages 10–25 across Northern Nevada to bring their creativity to the big screen!
Create a PG-rated short film, 10 minutes or less, featuring an element of Nevada history. Any genre is welcome! Films created with generative AI are not permitted.

📅 Submission Deadline: November 8 at midnight
🏆 Festival Day: Saturday, November 14, at the Historic Fourth Ward School Museum in Virginia City. Enjoy filmmaker masterclasses, screenings, awards, and prizes from community partners!

New to filmmaking? Join a one-day workshop, team up with other young creatives, and work with a local filmmaker to make a short film you can submit!

📍 Sparks Workshop: November 7 | Purchase tickets via our website!

📍 Virginia City Workshop: November 8 | Purchase tickets via our website!

Whether you're an experienced filmmaker or picking up a camera for the first time, this is your chance to tell a Nevada story, connect with local film professionals, and share your work with an audience!

Make a film. Tell Nevada's story. Take the spotlight!

10/13/2026

🎃🕯️ MAKE A LITTLE HALLOWEEN MAGIC—BECOME A SPONSOR!

The Historic Fourth Ward School Museum invites local businesses and community supporters to sponsor our Fourth Annual All Hallows’ Eve Victorian Ball on Saturday, October 24, from 7–10 p.m.!

This hauntingly elegant evening brings guests together for Victorian-inspired festivities, dancing, refreshments, a costume contest, a 50/50 raffle, and a silent auction—all inside our historic 1876 schoolhouse in Virginia City. Best of all, your support helps preserve this remarkable piece of Nevada history for generations to come!

Sponsorship opportunities range from $250 to $2,500, with benefits including:
✨ Complimentary event tickets
✨ Business advertising in event programs
✨ Logo placement and event recognition
✨ Opportunities to showcase your business at the event

Put your business in the Halloween spotlight! Every sponsor will be represented on our special skeleton display inside the museum.

Not ready to sponsor? We’re also welcoming silent auction donations, including gift certificates, gift baskets, local products, artwork, and unique experiences.

Help us make this year's ball unforgettable while investing in historic preservation and our local community!

Interested in sponsoring or donating? Contact the Historic Fourth Ward School Museum & Archives at (775) 847-0975.

10/09/2026

🎬 CALLING ALL YOUNG FILMMAKERS! 🎬
Have a story to tell about Nevada? The 2026 Comstock Film Festival invites young filmmakers ages 10–25 across Northern Nevada to bring their creativity to the big screen!

The Challenge: Create a PG-rated short film, 10 minutes or less, featuring an element of Nevada history. Any genre is welcome! Films created with generative AI are not permitted.

Submission Deadline: November 8 at midnight
Festival Day: Saturday, November 14, at the Historic Fourth Ward School Museum in Virginia City. Enjoy filmmaker masterclasses, screenings, awards, and prizes from community partners!

🎥 New to filmmaking? Join a one-day workshop, team up with other young creatives, and work with a local filmmaker to make a short film you can submit!

📍 Sparks Workshop: November 7 | Purchase tickets in advance on our website!
📍 Virginia City Workshop: November 8 | Purchase tickets in advance on our website!
Whether you're an experienced filmmaker or picking up a camera for the first time, this is your chance to tell a Nevada story, connect with local film professionals, and share your work with an audience!

10/02/2026

Join us for a hauntingly elegant evening of Victorian charm, dancing, and spooky surprises inside the historic 1876 Fourth Ward Schoolhouse at the All Hallows' Eve Victorian Ball!

📅 Saturday, October 24, 2026
🕖 7–10 p.m.
📍 Historic Fourth Ward School Museum, Virginia City, Nevada

Dress in your finest Victorian attire or your most creative spooky costume and enjoy an evening of dancing, refreshments, a costume contest, a 50/50 raffle, and a silent auction featuring unique items and experiences. Explore the museum after dark while helping preserve one of Nevada’s most treasured historic landmarks!

Become an Event Sponsor!
Local businesses and community supporters are invited to help make this special evening a success. Sponsorship opportunities range from $250 to $2,500, with benefits including event tickets, program advertising, business recognition, and more. Sponsors will also be featured on a themed skeleton display inside the museum!

Want to contribute to the silent auction? We welcome gift certificates, gift baskets, local products, artwork, and unique experiences.

Your support helps preserve the Fourth Ward School and keep Comstock history alive for future generations.

🎟️ Get your tickets and join the festivities by visiting
www .fourthwardschool.org.

For sponsorships or auction donations, contact the Historic Fourth Ward School Museum & Archives at (775) 847-0975.

Come for the history, stay for the haunting—and help us preserve this remarkable piece of Nevada’s past! 👻

09/25/2026

Thank you so much to everyone who attended the 150th Commemorative Celebration of the Fourth Ward School! It was a beautiful night of memories, reflections, and history. A very special thank you to , who made this incredible video documenting the evening, as well as our sponsors Floorcraft LLC, the Virginia City Tourism Commission, the Ron Gallagher family, the Burke family, and the McCullough family.

09/24/2026

Join Reno Swings! at the Historic Fourth Ward School Museum in Virginia City, NV for a night of swing dancing & vintage music! 💃🕺 Beginner-friendly lesson 7-8pm, social dancing 8-10pm. No partner or experience needed! Doors open 6:30pm.

Tickets on sale now! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/swingin-on-the-comstock-swing-dance-night-in-virginia-city-nv-tickets-1990605970042

09/15/2026

Our 150th Celebration is just around the corner! Secure your spot now to this one-unforgettable night, featuring ragtime piano music by Squeek Steele, special presentations by former Executive Directors Mark Preiss and Barbara Mackey, and historians Ron & Susan James, and a special commemorative print from printmaker Steve Robison.

Tickets on sale now: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/150-years-of-the-fourth-ward-school-a-commemorative-celebration-tickets-1991244722568?aff=oddtdtcreator

09/12/2026

Our 150th Celebration is just around the corner! Secure your spot now to this one-unforgettable night, featuring ragtime piano music by Squeek Steele, special presentations by former Executive Directors Mark Preiss and Barbara Mackey, and historians Ron & Susan James, and a special commemorative print from printmaker Steve Robison.

Tickets on sale now: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/150-years-of-the-fourth-ward-school-a-commemorative-celebration-tickets-1991244722568?aff=oddtdtcreator

Join us for an evening celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Historic Fourth Ward School

08/26/2026

We were honored to welcome a group of Buddhist monks from the Sparks Buddhist temple to the Historic Fourth Ward School Museum over the weekend! It was a pleasure to share this special piece of Comstock history with our visitors and to celebrate the many people and communities who continue to connect with the Fourth Ward School today.

Whether you're a longtime local or visiting Virginia City for the first time, there's always something new to discover inside our historic halls!

The Historic Fourth Ward School Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Come visit us and experience 150 years of history for yourself!