The Order of the Knights of Pythias began during the Civil War, founded by Justus Henry Rathbone, who believed a new fraternity should be established for men to gather under a common banner. This fraternity was based on the trinity of Friendship, Charity, & Benevolence with the motto, ‘Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men.’ The Knights of Pythias were the first American Order ever chartered by an Act of the Congress of the United States.  

On June 11, 1892, in Virginia City, the morning train included a special car loaded with about 60 men, women and children from Truckee, consisting of Knights of Pythias members, their wives and children, and a drum corps of 12 girls.

They marched up C Street and an immense crowd followed them down to the depot and saw them off with hearty cheers. The Knights were in full uniform. 

An interesting note on the discrimination in the 1880s: the Supreme Lodge of Knights of Pythias adopted a resolution declaring explicitly that no authority has ever been granted for the creation of a Lodge of colored Knights and that a colored man can lawfully be admitted into any Lodge.

The Knights of Pythias has a section in the Silver Terrace cemeteries in Virginia City.  The section contains approximately 100 burials.  In its prime it boasted beautiful locust trees, white fencing and an elaborate curved wooden archway.

William Henry Howard was instrumental in the movement to organize a Masonic lodge in Virginia City and through his endeavors authority granting permission to organize was issued January 15, 1863. On May 24, 1863 the charter was issued to the brethren of Virginia Lodge No. 162. 

The Masons had their own building located right off Sutton on C Street. Community banquets were held at this location up to the 1920s.  The building was thought to be unstable and was sold off brick by brick. 

The final Masonic cemetery in Virginia City was established in 1867.  Gold Hill cemeteries also contain a Masonic section.  The entire cemetery is often mistakenly referred to as the Masonic Cemetery but it contains many other religious and fraternal sections.

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