There was little attraction for the Jewish Community to come to the Nevada territory until the discovery of the Comstock Lode in 1859.  Among the streams of teamsters and miners were Jewish peddlers and merchants.  By 1861 the Jewish community was in a high growth mode bringing independent enterprises and family business owners to the Comstock area.

Carson City and Virginia City saw Hebrew Benevolent Societies by 1862 and had already purchased a cemetery on Cedar Hill.

On April 3, 1864 the leaders of several hundred Jews announced their intention to establish a congregation and by 1865 Virginia City had two Jewish benevolent associations.

Overt anti-Semitism was not apparent in early Nevada and Jews were active in local and fraternal organizations such as the Volunteer Fire companies, Odd Fellows and Masons.

An article in the Territorial Enterprise, described the Jewish cemetery; “…a very handsome platt of ground, of about 100 feet square.  We noticed several fine grave spots staked off, but at present only the remains of one person occupies the ground, and we paused for while and allowed our eyes to rest upon the solitary grave, situated on the northwest corner of the cemetery…” 

Today, there is little left of the nearly 25 burials from the 1800s.

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