ABSTRACT
Since the nineteenth century, Virginia City, Nevada has evolved from a booming mining town to a quasi-ghost town to a tourist destination. With significant help from Hollywood, community leaders have marketed Virginia City as emblematic of America’s disappearing frontier. The lure of Wild West fantasies, combined with cheap rent, scenic vistas, and proximity to Reno and San Francisco, attracted waves of Bohemians, Beatniks, and Psychedelic Rockers. Many came as tourists, but a significant number stayed. Altering their dress, behaviors, and lifestyles to harmonize with the historical and cultural landscapes of the city’s place images, a persistent place attachment has developed.
