The Combination Shaft

Don't miss your chance to experience a captivating chapter in the history of Virginia City, showcasing the resilience, courage, and determination of the miners from that era.  This is a must see when in Virginia City.  

The Combination Shaft was created in 1875 as a collaborative effort among the Savage, Chollar-Potosi, and Hale & Norcross mines. The partners aimed to dig deeper into the Comstock Lode in search of new ore deposits.

Ultimately, the shaft extended over 3,250 feet, making it the deepest on the Comstock. Sadly, the ore they found at those depths turned out to be low-grade and not economically feasible.

By the mid-1880s, the Combination Shaft encountered significant flooding. Crews tried to manage the water with a massive double line of Cornish Pumps, along with hydraulic pumps. Together, these pumps removed 5,200,000 gallons of water every 24 hours to the 2400 level. Even this remarkable effort wasn’t sufficient to keep the workings dry. Underground temperatures soared above 130 degrees, adding to the challenges and hazards.

In 1886, overwhelmed by heat, water, low-grade ore, and rising costs, operations at the Combination Shaft came to a halt. When the pumps were finally turned off, the water surged back rapidly, refilling the shaft to the 2,400-foot level in just 36 hours. The flooding also affected the lower workings of the three partner mines.

There were 5 fatalities at the Combination Shaft between 1863 and 1882, which included:

• 1879: William Eddy - July 14.
• 1881: Isaac Frock - July 19; Thomas Matthews - December 3.
• 1882: William F. Grant - July 5; Thomas Veale - August 12.

It's worth reading up on the history and check out the old photos before or during your visit. Doing so will make this place come alive in a whole new way. It’s also fascinating to see what remains today and to imagine what it looked like back then.

You will be amazed by the incredible size of everything here. Just looking around makes it clear how massive things had to be back in the day since they didn't have the technology we do now.  There are bolts so massive in size that I couldn't wrap my hand all the way around them, and they are everywhere at this site.

Don't miss your chance to stand on the steel cage that covers the opening of the shaft and look down to see just how enormous it was. However, you won't be able to grasp the full depth of it because a giant plug was installed 30+ years ago.

Finally, after you've finished checking it out, turn around and enjoy the stunning view of Virginia City from this spot across the valley. It's a perfect way to wrap up your visit to such an intriguing historical site.