Welcome to the virtual tour of Mackay Mansion. While the
pictures and text presented here offer some highlights of the grand tour,
the best way to experience the Victorian opulence of the Mackay Mansion
is still found by following the mining trail to picturesque Virginia
City, Nevada. We offer tours year-round, so be sure and use our
Contact Form and let us know
when you're coming!
Your virtual tour of the Mackay Mansion begins when the door just past
the vault opens into a large reception room known as the Grand Parlor.
The maroon upholstered parlor set, built in 1868, is original to the
mansion. The carpet, laid in the 1860s is also original and the carved
heads on the chair arms commemorate the opening of the Suez Canal.
The oak mantle was carved between 1780 and 1820 by a prominent English artisan named Adams, and the style known as "Adamasque." The large mirror over the mantle is backed with crushed diamonds and the frame is 24 karat gold leaf. The gold-plated chandelier is original and, along with the other light fixtures, has been converted from gas or kerosene to electric.
An opening framed by grey velvet curtains leads to a small vestibule.
Also known as the formal social entrance, this is where afternoon
guests were recieved. The leaded glass transom window is an original
Tiffany and the heavy wallpaper border is also original.
As your eye moves up the stairs, notice the faux-grained wood. The grain is literally painted on, an art often used during the Victorian period to enhance to look of wood when more decorative varieties weren't available. The staircase was constructed using one continuous piece from the first to third floors and is cantilevered into the walls. This is known as a hanging staircase of Italisn design.
At the top of the stairs, the first door on the right (locked) leads to the servants' quarters which housed about four. Though not open to the public and now used for storage (windows were removed from roof and openings were shingled over in 1918), it still holds some of the original horse-hair mattresses as well as the original 500-gallon water tank which supplied water to the bathroom. This was accomplished by using gravity flow, and required the servants to keep the water tank filled by hand.
John Mackay's bedroom is the first room upstairs on the left, opposite
the servants' door. The chandelier is original, and the furniture dates
back to the 1860s and 1870s. The bedroom set is carved walnut and the
12-piece wash basin set is English porcelain. (All things considered,
maybe we should remove that).
Further down the hall on the right are two smaller children's bedrooms. The bedrooms feature scaled kidsize furniture and are original, rare pieces from the period.
The dolls in the playroom date from the 1850s to
the early 1900s, and the rocking horse is from the Civil War era. This
playroom is dedicated to Ruth Nicholson, the last child to live in the
Mansion; The Nicholson family lived in the mansion for more than sixty
years.
A vintage bathroom is at the end of the hall on the right. Complete with a gravity flow running water system from the tank in the attic, it was touted as the first "working bathroom" in Virginia City. All fixtures are original, including the old-fashioned tub and wallpaper.
Directly across from the famous bathroom is the bedroom occupied by
Mackay's partner, Mr. James Fair. The upholstered blue-striped chair is one he used in his box at Piper's Opera House in the 1870s.
The virtual tour will continue back down the stairs to the first floor where the dining room and kitchen are located. Dinner guests were received through the entrance at the base of the stairs.
The four maple chairs against the wall are all original, having been
brought here by George Hearst. The door on the right was for meat storage,
and the one on the left was for dry goods storage. The door next to the
wood cook-stove leads to the dining room.
The chandelier above the dining room table is made of pure coin silver
taken from the Mackay's mines. The sideboard to the right of the table
is an original piece, and the gold-framed lithographs on both sides of the
fireplace were a gift presented to a local Virginia City family by
Clarence Mackay, one of John Mackay's sons.
You are now invited to explore the lawn and garden areas through the North entrance, which is just off the kitchen/dining area. Feel free to wander the lawn and gardens (presently being renovated) around the East side of the mansion.
On the horizon beyond the yard to the East stands Sugar Loaf, an imposing
dome-shaped hill that stands by Six Mile Canyon. Many mills were located
there during the Comstock Era, and many old foundations still stand today.
From the center of the yard, a look to the right reveals the large, angular grey metal building and hoisting works on the horizon that are all that remains of the shaft of the Combination Mine. This is the deepest shaft of the Comstock, which reaches a depth of 3300 feet.
The yard features some original pieces as well, including the large weathered clothes line and the out-buildings along the path back to the house. Behind the clothesline was once the woodshed and laundry.
Also on the grounds of the mansion is the Mackay Pavilion , which is available for parties, weddings, receptions and other special events. The red fire wheel (see Pavilion pic ) is originally from Bodie, California.
That completes your virtual tour of Mackay Mansion. We hope this tour was informative and enjoyable. If you have any questions or comments about touring the mansion, feel free to e-mail us at weddings@macakaymansion.reno.nv.us. Thanks for visiting and we hope too see you soon in Virginia City.
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