Historic Virginia City saloon damaged by blast

The Associated Press

6 years ago

An apparent gas leak triggered an explosion that extensively damaged the historic Delta Saloon in Virginia City, Nevada on Tuesday, March 12, 2019. One employee in the building at the time suffere ... — An apparent gas leak triggered an explosion that extensively damaged the historic Delta Saloon in Virginia City, Nevada on Tuesday, March 12, 2019. One employee in the building at the time suffered minor injuries. (Jason Bean/The Reno Gazette-Journal via AP)

The Delta Saloon, shown in 2009, suffered extensive damage after an explosion Tuesday, March 12, 2019, in Virginia City. (Brad Horn/Special to the Las Vegas Review-Journal)

VIRGINIA CITY — A gas leak apparently triggered an explosion at an old Nevada saloon in historic Virginia City that injured one employee and forced the closure of a street.

The Delta Saloon founded in the 1860s suffered extensive damage in the explosion shortly before 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Storey County manager Pat Whitten told KOLO-TV propane was delivered to the business on Monday and likely caused the explosion.

He says one employee who was inside sustained minor injuries but declined to be taken to a hospital.

The nearby county courthouse was briefly evacuated but had resumed normal operations by midday. A stretch of the street in front of the saloon remained closed.

The town halfway between Reno and Carson City is a National Historic Landmark where thousands of miners and prospectors settled after two big gold and silver strikes in 1859.