Comstock Wild Horse & Mining Museum Project Summary

The Let ’em Run Foundation is a charitable organization committed to the protection and preservation of wild horses and the heritage of the American West. The organization has grown to the point where a permanent facility is needed to support our public education, outreach and membership activities.

The Comstock Wild Horse & Mining Museum is dedicated to the wild horses of the Virginia Range in Nevada and their role in supporting the mining industry which put Virginia City on the map. It houses a growing collection of wild horse and mining memorabilia along with gift items including artifacts, photos, maps, music and video collections. Included are the "Lacy J Dalton and Friends" benefit concert CD's, DVD's, and excerpts from our PBS documentary "Sanctuary" which features horse advocate Olivia Fiamengo, horseman Ernie Fanning and local celebrity and range manager John Tyson.

A number of retail products from other local horse advocacy groups are also offered to assist in promoting their work at protection and preservation, and toward our combined efforts for a Sanctuary for these animals. Unfortunately, these horses have been deemed "estray" by the state of Nevada and fall outside the protection of the Federal Wild Horses and Burros act. They will benefit greatly from a safe, controlled place to live out their lives.

LERF's broader retail strategy incorporates wholesaling LERF products for distribution to local Virginia City shops to help increase sales volume and to encourage referrals to the museum and vise-versa.

The museum and gift shop is located at 131 South “C” Street (Main Street), Virginia City, inside Car #13, an historic gold and silver bullion rail car from the V&T Railroad. The museum is staffed by volunteers and will be headed by director Olivia Fiamengo, formerly of the Virginia Range Wildlife Protection Association.

The Museum and Gift Shop is NOW OPEN. A grand opening is planned for later in the summer of 2003.