RENO, Nev. (AP) - One of Nevada's oldest churches is marking a milestone.
Parishioners of St. Mary's in the Mountains Catholic Church in Virginia City are celebrating the 150th anniversary of its founding with events this weekend.
The church is one of the first landmarks tourists notice in the historic mining town, about 20 miles southeast of Reno. It features Gothic architecture, a majestic steeple and spires, and beautiful stained glass windows.
Church historian Patrick Neylan says the St. Mary's parish dates back to Sept. 14, 1862, making it the longest continuously active Catholic parish in Nevada.
He says the first brick Catholic church in Virginia City was built from 1868 to 1870, but was burned by an 1875 fire that destroyed most of Virginia City.
The current church was built in 1876.
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