Fourth Ward School: then and now

1937 vs 1986 · Virginia City, NV

NowThen

Then, 1937Built in 1876 for more than 1,000 students, with indoor plumbing and central heat. This photo was taken in March 1937.Photo: Robert W. Kerrigan (HABS) · Public domain · Source · resized

Today, 1986The school reopened in 1986 as the Historic Fourth Ward School Museum. Photo from the Library of Congress, taken between 1980 and 2006.Photo: Carol M. Highsmith · Public domain · Source · resized

The story

The Fourth Ward School was built in 1876 in the Second Empire style, with a steep mansard roof and four stories. The architect was C. M. Bennett.

It was designed for more than 1,000 students. It had indoor plumbing, drinking fountains, gas lighting, and central heat. The last class graduated in 1936, and students moved to a new school.

The building sat closed and falling apart for years. In 1986 it reopened as the Historic Fourth Ward School Museum at 537 South C Street.

Did you know? One building held primary school, grammar school, and high school under the same roof.

Historians argue about this. Some pages call it the last wood-built school of its design in the United States. We could not find a source that backs that up.

Fact or tall tale?

SolidThe Fourth Ward School graduated its last class in 1936.
The school page gives 1936, when students moved to a new school.
DisputedIt is the last wood-built school of its design in the whole country.
Some pages say so, but we found no source that backs it up.

Sources

More: Look for historic photos at the Library of Congress

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Next: C Street. Written from the cited sources, not yet walked on site unless noted.