I am posting this here on behalf of the Montana Heritage Commission of Virginia City. The commission is a state agency developed to keep a major portion of this Civil War era gold camp and it's attendant collection of artifacts (including the neighboring town of Nevada City and a collection of wooden railroad equipment) in the public domain after its original owner made known their intent to break up the collection.

Michael Seitz
Missoula MT

"The Montana Heritage Commission is looking for a trainer/instructor for leading a week long seminar on wooden railway car restoration. The seminar would be a week long hands-on survey style course, covering initial assessment, stabilization, structural issues, exterior restoration, interior restoration and long term preservation. The goal of the seminar is to provide participants an adequate basis with which they can develop and pursue restoration projects.

The proposed dates for this seminar would be mid to late September 2003. The format of the seminars would follow the existing Virginia City Institute format. http://www.virginiacityinstitute.com which has focused on building restoration work. Class size would be limited to no more than 10 or 12 people. Suitable compensation is provided. For further details please contact Mr. Rod Gwaltney, Lead Preservation Specialist, Montana Heritage Commission, Box 338, Virginia City MT 59758. Telephone (406) 843-5457, fax (406) 843-5468 or e-mail mhcpc@3rivers.net "


Virginia City Institute
mikefrommontana@juno.com