Virginia City Historic District was coined as one of the largest National Historic Landmark Districts in Nevada that covers the former mining villages of Gold Hill and Virginia City that are both located in Storey County. This famous landmark was said to found the first establishments. The first territorial capital, public school, social clubs, country seat, and leading newspaper were all originated in Virginia City. Virginia City Historic District was declared as a National Historic Landmark in 1961, making it as one of the sole six landmarks in Nevada.

Virginia City has been the archetype of frontier mining business, including its urbanization and industrialization, due to the discovery of Comstock Lode in 1859. Comstock Lode was the first major discovery of silver ore in the United States. Aside from successful mining activities in Comstock Lode, Virginia City has also been known from its populated settlements in Gold Hill, Dayton, and Cilver City, wherein there were evidences of cultural landscape and archaeological features that were linked with mining activities. Also, Virginia City was the first silver rush town.