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Archaeologists excavate African American saloon in Virginia City

Monday, July 10, 2000 | 2:44 a.m.

The Boston Saloon operated in Virginia City between 1864 and 1875. It was owned by William A. G. Brown, an African American from Massachusetts.

Historians say Brown came to Virginia City in the early 1860s and worked as a sidewalk shoe shiner before going into the saloon business.

Excavation work is scheduled July 11 through Aug. 10.

Kelly Dixon, an archaeologist at the University of Nevada, Reno and administrator of the Comstock Archaeology Center, said experts hope artifacts from the Boston Saloon site will provide more insight into what life was like for 19th century African Americans in the West.

The excavation project is a joint effort by the Comstock Archaeology Center, UNR, the Nevada State Historic Preservation Office and Portland State University.

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