The Way It Was Museum — Attraction in Dayton

This small museum is loaded with mining artifacts and photos. Since mining is a huge part of why Virginia City exists, "the way it was" is an apt name for this museum.

The fellow who took our money for entrance gave us a suggested route for the walk through; it's not terribly complicated (but ADHD brains might benefit from some arrows painted on the floor as a reminder). You'll find everything from examples of newspapers and maps to old apothecary items to actual mining equipment.

There's a video to sit and watch, but my companions were impatient, so I didn't get to see the whole thing, and beyond that is a room displaying the equipment used to make ore into metal.

My personal favorite part was the costumed dolls. Beautifully crafted dolls (the postcard I purchased calls them mannequins), about twice the size of a Barbie to give you an idea of scale, dressed in gorgeous 1800s fashions. If you like period fashion, or dolls, or both, you will love these!

There were a few things displayed that I would have liked to know more about, like the "women dressed as men to visit in the mine" photo. No context was given. Were these wives? How long were the men down there, that women needed to go and visit them? Having placards giving more information for some of these items would have been awesome, otherwise it's just a collection of "stuff."

Overall this was a really informative and interesting look into Virginia City's, and...

My daughter and I spent a week on a road trip touring the state of Nevada, seeing amazing geological wonders, and learning the mining history of the state. Ironically, Virginia City was probably the only disappointing stop. The entire town has become a cheaply done tourist trap of a location, none of which is aging well. The Way It Was Museum, a small relic of history itself, is on Main Street and costs $4 per person to enter. The price is fine for what you get, which isn't much. There are some interesting relics, but the entirety of the display doesn't seem to have been updated or dusted much in at least 40 years, which is also the age of the "movie" they play on loop in the back, starring a couple of actors I vaguely remember from when I was in 1st grade, and transferred to DVD from a grainy VHS tape at some point. The entire building reeks of cigarette smoke, too. For a much better history of mining in the state of Nevada, I'd recommend going to Berlin-Ichthyosaur, Ely, and/or Pioche. The only part of this museum I did find original and interesting was the 3D model of the mining tunnel system of the...

This museum is worth the small cost to visit and will be of interest even to small children. Both the building and outdoor area is packed full of artifacts, photos, minerals, diagrams, and stories of the mining history of Virginia City.

We all imagine a life of unlimited wealth. One hundred years ago, Virginia City was the wealthiest city on earth. So wealthy that the miners were throwing out tons of silver ore! The incredible wealth, however, came at a great personal price to those who earned it and those who used it. This museum (and especially those who operate it) will explain the toll.

The old bromide is true: all that glitters...