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Bannack State Park

BANNACK STATE PARK

Bannack was once home to the infamous sheriff, Henry Plummer, and his gang of outlaws. It was also the site of the first major gold rush in Montana and home of Montana’s first Territorial Capital. Over 50 buildings still stand at Bannack. The Visitor Center is open from May through October. Guided town tours, mill tours, living history, and gold panning are scheduled from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Bannack Days, a celebration of pioneer life, takes place on the third weekend in July. The park and campgrounds are open all year. Bannack is located 25 miles southwest of Dillon, just off Highway 278.

CHARTER OAK MINE AND MILL

The Charter Oak Mine and Mill was a lode mine and mill active off and on from 1916 to 1955. It is located near the Little Blackfoot River south of the community of Elliston. Today you will find standing buildings as well as the equipment and shelters used for mining and milling. The mine has been stabilized and interpreted and is open for public visitation, although it is about a mile hike into the mine. Contact the Montana Discovery Foundation for a tour 406-495-3711.

COMET

The mine was developed in the 1880s and a large mill was built in 1926. During this period, it is reported that Comet had 22 saloons. The town is on private property but is now open to the public. Located approximately 5 miles north of I-15 on High Ore Road between Boulder and Basin.

COOLIDGE

Located in the east Pioneer Mountains above 7,000 feet, Coolidge was the last silver boomtown in Montana. A narrow-gauge railroad was built to the mine, but the quantity of silver ore did not justify the expense of the rail line or the huge mill that was built. Reached by a good gravel road at Mono Creek along the Pioneer Scenic Byway.

SOUTHWEST MONTANA • 1105 MAIN ST, DEER LODGE, MT 59722 • 1-800-879-1159 • SOUTHWESTMT.COM GHOST TOWNS

Garnet Ghost Town

ELKHORN STATE PARK

Rich silver deposits were discovered here in 1870, and the population reached nearly 2,500 inhabitants. Much of the remaining town site is owned by private individuals so be sure to heed the no trespassing signs. Fraternity Hall and the adjacent Gillian Hall are managed by Montana State Parks. From I-15 take the Boulder exit, seven miles south on Montana 69, then 11 miles north on country road.

FARLIN

The boom years for Farlin were 1905 and 1906 when the Indian Queen produced half a million pounds of copper. Farlin had its own post office and school. Today a few cabins remain along the Birch Creek road and the schoolhouse is a short hike up a side gulch. Take the Birch Creek exit between Glen and Dillon and go west six miles.

GARNET

Gold was discovered at the Nancy Hanks Mine in 1898. Garnet’s population boomed to nearly 1,000 people but by 1950 the town was deserted. More than 30 buildings have been preserved here. Garnet offers a Visitor Center, interpretive signs and self-guided trails. I-90 west to Exit 154 for Drummond. Follow the Frontage Road from the west end of Drummond for approximately 10 miles to Bear Gulch Road. Turn onto Bear Gulch Road at the sign for Garnet and proceed 11 miles up the gravel road. Please note the gravel road is not recommended for trailers or motorhomes.

SOUTHWEST MONTANA • 1105 MAIN ST, DEER LODGE, MT 59722 • 1-800-879-1159 • SOUTHWESTMT.COM GHOST TOWNS

Granite Ghost Town

GLENDALE AND CANYON CREEK CHARCOAL KILNS

Once a thriving smelting town, little remains of Glendale today. The old stone Confederated office building, a smelter stack and a few other buildings remain. During the boom period of the 1880s the town boasted a population of 2,000. In order to supply charcoal for the smelter the Canyon Creek charcoal kilns were built about five miles up Canyon Creek beyond Glendale. Numerous beehive shaped kilns remain.Take the Melrose exit off of I-15 and head west on the Trapper Creek road for five miles to Glendale. To reach the kilns turn right on the Canyon Creek road at Glendale and travel about five miles.

GRANITE STATE PARK

This was the richest silver mine on earth, yielding $40 million worth of silver. The shell of the Miners’ Union Hall still stands, as well as few other buildings remaining in poor repair. In the Silver Panic of 1893, and the mine shut down. From Philipsburg, follow Galena Road onto Granite Road (less than 4 miles from town).

MARYSVILLE

While driving on Highways 279 from Helena to Lincoln, you will find Marysville tucked away at the foot of Mount Belmont. This semi-ghost town shines as an underappreciated gem in Southwest Montana. Marysville boomed as a gold camp in the 1880s and 90s. Great Divide Ski Area is just up the hill, and as you will see, the town is not fully abandoned, but boasts a small community.

PONY

Pony is named after Tecumseh “Pony” Smith, the discoverer of the placer gold deposits in 1867. Although Pony has seen better days, this picturesque little town refuses to die. Many old abandoned buildings remain including the Morris State Bank and the Morris Elling stamp mill. Located six miles southwest of Harrison on route 283.

SOUTHWEST MONTANA • 1105 MAIN ST, DEER LODGE, MT 59722 • 1-800-879-1159 • SOUTHWESTMT.COM GHOST TOWNS

Virginia City

RIMINI

History has it that Rimini was either named after a city in Italy or a drama production that traveled through during its formative years. Several of Rimini’s old buildings are inhabited today and make up the Rimini community. Southwest of Helena off Highway 12.

ROCHESTER

The Watseca gold mine was discovered in 1869 and the town of Rochester sprang up. The Watseca mine was operated until the 1980s. A few stone buildings, a wooden head frame, a modern gold mill (now abandoned) and the old cemetery remain. Located about 12 miles from Twin Bridges on the Melrose-Twin Bridges County Road.

VIRGINIA AND NEVADA CITIES

Located in Alder Gulch, Virginia and Nevada Cities are a popular draw during the summer months. Nevada City is a town-sized open-air museum (or building zoo) with over 100 buildings from the gold rush era. Virginia City was the second Territorial Capital of Montana and stands today as a well preserved glimpse into the past with thousands of artifacts, living history every weekend (Memorial Day through Labor Day), and gem mining!

SOUTHWEST MONTANA • 1105 MAIN ST, DEER LODGE, MT 59722 • 1-800-879-1159 • SOUTHWESTMT.COM