2026 Christenot Reunion

Reunion Location

Join us at the Virginia City Community Center at 110 Van Buren Street at the corner of Idaho and Van Buren Streets, across from the free parking lot with E/V charging. Enter the lot from both Van Buren and the main street, Wallace Street. See picture gallery below.

History of Virginia City

The discovery of gold in Alder Gulch in 1863 brought thousands of prospectors living in nine mining camps along Alder Gulch. The largest one became the town of Virginia City. It grew rapidly in size and importance. Benjamin F. Christenot arrived in search of gold in 1863 and Charles & Martha Christenot, with five other family members, arrived in 1866. They worked the Christenot Mill crushing iron ore to extract gold, but it was costly to continue and the Mill failed. With growing families, they tried to make a living throughout Madison County, of which Virginia City is the county seat. Benjamin eventually moved to try mining in California.

Read and watch videos about Historical Virginia City

History of Alder Gulch, Preservation, History from Montanakids.com, VC: Montana’s Incorporated First Town – Part 1 and Part 2, Lively Ghost Town, A Day Trip to VC, and for a deep dive, Staging the Past in Montana’s Alder Gulch. Watch videos: Where History Lives – Part 1 with the last six minutes at Part 2. More videos: A Fun Old West Town and Travel back in time to the Frontier Era.

Links to Tourist Activities

Alder Gulch Shortline Railroad, Historic Fire Truck Tours, The Virginia City Players, Brewery Follies

Schedule

Here’s the 2026 Christenot Reunion Schedule. You’ll also get a paper copy at the Reunion.

Every day: Explore Virginia City, Nevada City, and Madison County on your own; and relax and chat with cousins, view history displays, heirlooms, and family trees at the Community Center.

Thursday, July 16: Set-up starting at noon, float the Madison River, bring your own dinner, fellowship evening.

Friday, July 17: Mill Work Party, Tour to Upper Ruby Valley, Catered Dinner at 6 p.m., Family Introductions, Wagon Train Play, Celebrate Christenot Family in Madison County and 30 years of Genealogy/Reunions.

Saturday, July 18: Christenot Mill History Tour, Group Pictures, Catered Dinner at 6 p.m., Silent Auction, Celebrate 30 Years of Reunions and Mill Preservation, Honor Mill Workers.

Sunday, July 19: Tour to Upper Ruby Valley, Clean-up.

What to Bring

The Reunion is casual. Bring good walking shoes, be ready for hot days and cool evenings, and maybe a summer shower and an occasional insect.  Cash or check is preferred to pay for dinners or items at our Christenot General Store. There’s a 24-hour ATM at 207 W. Wallace across the main street from the Community Center.  Venmo can be used at the Registration table. Credit or debit card can be used with the Reunion Purchases below. Bring any family photos to share! And don’t forget your auction items!

Meals

Dinners on Friday and Saturday will be catered at the Community Center starting at 6 p.m. Order meals now on the Registration form, so we have an accurate head count for food which is purchased earlier in the week. Pay for the meals upon check-in at the Registration Table. Cash or check is preferred, but can take credit or debit cards.

Friday Dinner: Pulled pork, bread on the side, cowboy beans, veggie beans, coleslaw, hearty green salad, cookies & brownies, lemonade, iced tea, and coffee. $15 for ages 13 and above, $9 per child 6-12 years old.
Saturday Dinner: Taco Bar with soft corn tortillas, chicken, beef, vegetarian black beans and refried beans, roast veggies, cilantro lime rice, typical taco toppings, queso & chips, cookies & brownies, lemonade, iced tea, and coffee. $20 for ages 13 and above, $10 per child 6-12 years old.

Hospitality Table

Snacks and drinks will be available for everyone at the hospitality table throughout the day. But we need you all to bring those snacks and drinks to make this work! Grab something you like to snack on, healthy or not, and bring it to share.

Silent Auction

Let’s have fun while we raise funds for the Christenot Mill Preservation and Reunion costs. The traditional Silent Auction tables will be open for bids Saturday afternoon until dinner time. What wonderful items will you contribute? Something made with your own hands or an item from your hometown? Artwork, clothing, children’s items, a Montana memento, history book, or family picture? We need someone to oversee the Auction. Bid sheets have been printed, and there’s a method to collect funds. Please contact us to help.

Pay for Reunion Purchases with Credit/Debit Card with this form

Tours:

Float the Madison River – Thursday, July 16

Meet at 1 pm at the Varney Bridge Fishing Access

• Meet at the Varney Bridge Fishing Access Site at 1 p.m. with hope of exiting about 4 hours later at the Ennis Fishing Access Site.  This stretch is known for a mix of braided channels and cottonwood scenery and is approximately 8-10 river miles. Read Foolproof Floating for tips for a great day.
• Bring your own flotation devices or make reservations to rent with a local retailer. One is Madison River Tubing in Bozeman at 3505 Laramie Drive, 60 miles away from Varney Bridge. Read about renting equipment for a self-guided trip on their River Rentals page and make a reservation soon. Walmart in Bozeman sells tubes.
• New Information: A Montana Conservation License for everyone ages 12 and older is required to access state lands including fishing access sites. The license can be purchased online or at local vendors such as outdoor stores in Ennis.
• Once the number of participants is confirmed, plans will be made for vehicles and transportation back to the launch site. If you’re interested, or have local knowledge about retailers, please contact David Jordan.

Christenot Mill Work Party – Friday, July 17

Meet at VC Community Center at 9:00 am, time subject to change.

• All hands are needed to help preserve our legacy at the Mill. Friday’s work party will focus on applying preservative with paint brushes to all wooden parts of the Mill. We hope to have tall ladders to reach the high woodwork. We’ll also remove vegetation by hand and weed wackers.
• Bring gloves, lunch, water, chairs, and vegetation thrashing tools.
• It takes about an hour and an elevation gain of 1,800 feet to reach the remains of the Mill that are 8 miles southwest of Virginia City along curvy gravel roads. The Mill is at 7,650 feet.
• We’ll carpool to the Mill. Sturdy passenger cars may work on the first seven miles, to the site of the mining town, Summit City, but the last mile needs all-wheel drive vehicles with high clearance.
• On the registration form, please let us know how many will be helping and if you have a rig we can count on for that last mile, and how many cousins you can take.

Homesteads and Gravesites Tour to the Upper Ruby Valley – Friday, July 17

Meet at VC Community Center at 9:30 a.m.

• Please consider first the Mill Work Party happening at the same time as this tour. We’re also offering this tour Sunday morning.
• Two-hour car tour to the Upper Ruby Valley to view land where Charles & Martha Christenot lived, where other family members homesteaded, mined, and worked. First visit Alice Newbary’s grave at the Nevada City Cemetery, then see the grave of Charles Christenot at the private Upper Ruby Cemetery with territorial views near Puller Springs. Drive further up the valley to view properties from the road. Lunch at Chick’s Restaurant in Alder.
• After lunch at Alder, you could return to Virginia City, stopping at sights along the way, or go north into Madison County to find Martha Christenot’s grave at the South Boulder Cemetery.
• Option 1: On your own, as you return nine miles to Virginia City, stop to pan for garnets at a rock shop, explore Nevada City, and see mining equipment at the free museum at 1559 MT Hwy 287 by the large dredge, just before Virginia City.
• Option 2: On your own, continue north to see more family homesites and four cemeteries in small communities where Jordan, Patrick, Kyle, and Swisher family lay at rest.  Martha Christenot is buried next to her daughter, Mary Patrick, at the South Boulder Cemetery about 60 miles away. Return to Virginia City via Ennis, completing a full circle around the Tobacco Root Mountains for a full afternoon. Map and information provided.

Christenot Mill History Tour – Saturday, July 18th

Meet at VC Community Center at 9:30 am to Carpool

• Enjoy a tour of the remains of the Christenot Mill and the surrounding area once known as Union City. Led by Laura Clark and Nick Shrauger, they’ll share where the gold came from, how the Mill operated, and which family members lived and worked there.
• It takes about an hour and an elevation gain of 1,800 feet to reach the remains of the Mill that are 8 miles southwest of Virginia City along curvy gravel roads. The Mill is at 7,650 feet.
• We’ll carpool to the Mill. Sturdy passenger cars may work on the first seven miles, to the site of the mining town, Summit City, but the last mile needs all-wheel drive vehicles with high clearance.
• On the registration form, please let us know how many will be coming, if you have a rig we can count on for that last mile, and how many cousins you can take.
• Bring your lunch, water, and chairs, and get ready to explore or sit and enjoy the scenery! We’ll take a large group photo.
• Some people may hike 1/3 mile up 400 feet through dense woods to the site of the Oro Cache mine.
• Return mid-afternoon with time to tour Virginia or Nevada City.

Homesteads and Gravesites Tour to the Upper Ruby Valley – Sunday, July 19

Meet at VC Community Center at 9:30 am

Guided car tour to Charles Christenot’s grave at Jack Creek Cemetery (Upper Ruby Cemetery) twenty miles away, view family lands, and return. Read more above. Can be as long or short as needed.

Picture Gallery