The State Historic Preservation Office is pleased to announce that the historic Miners’ Union Hall in Virginia City has been officially listed in the Nevada State Register of Historic Places.
Recognized for its significant role in Nevada’s labor history and as an excellent example of late nineteenth century institutional architecture, the Miners’ Union Hall stands as one of Virginia City’s most enduring community landmarks.
Constructed in 1876 following the Great Fire of 1875, the two story brick building served as headquarters for the Virginia Miners’ Union, one of Nevada’s earliest and most influential labor organizations.
As mining activity slowed in the early twentieth century, the future of the building grew uncertain. In 1925, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Comstock Aerie No. 523, began working with the union to purchase the property. The building was formally conveyed in 1926, allowing it to continue its long-standing role as a center for charitable, civic, and community activities.
For the past century, Comstock Aerie No. 523 have cared for the building, preserving its history through displays of artifacts from the Virginia Miners’ Union and Storey County Miners’ Union within the hall.
“The Miners’ Union Hall has outlived the people who built it, the mining era that gave it life, and generations of those who have gathered within its walls,” said Audie Robinson, historian for Comstock Aerie No. 523 and author of the nomination. “Yet it is still here because each generation understood that it was something worth passing on. For the past century, Comstock Aerie No. 523 has carried that responsibility. Recognition on the Nevada State Register honors that legacy and gives the Miners’ Union Hall its own place in Nevada’s history.”
The Miners’ Union Hall now joins other notable historic listings in Lyon and Storey Counties, including the Amity Lodge No. 4, Fernley and Lassen Railway Depot, Nordyke Ranch House, Chinese Residence, and Fort Churchill.
About the State of Nevada Register of Historic Places
Created by the Nevada Legislature in 1979, the State Register is maintained by the Nevada State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) and includes resources significant in history, architecture, archaeology, and culture. Eligible properties are generally at least 50 years old, retain strong physical integrity, and demonstrate historical significance.
For more information about this listing or the State Register program, visit shpo.nv.gov or contact Jean-Guy Tanner Dubé at (775) 684-3439 or shpo-info@shpo.nv.gov.
About the Comstock Aerie No. 523
Comstock Aerie No. 523 is a local chapter of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, a nonprofit fraternal organization dedicated to community service, charitable giving, and supporting local communities. Within the organization, local chapters are known as “Aeris”. For more information on The Fraternal Order of Eagles, visit https://foe.com/.
