IMAGES OF THE AMERICAN WEST

Bannack, Montana Photo Gallery

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Jails in Bannack, Montana

The jail on the right was  built by the notorious outlaw sheriff, Henry Plummer,

John Vachon, 1942. To the left is a jail built at a later date.

The original jail today, Kathy Weiser, July, 2008.

A second jail was built in Bannack some time later, July, 2008, Kathy Weiser.

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Bannack-Gold to Ghosts

In many mining camps, jails were rarely built or used as no one wanted the job of guarding the prisoners, when they could be out prospecting or working a mining claim. Instead, local miners' courts or vigilantes would more often warn, banish, or hang criminals or nuisance makers. However, Bannack was an exception. After Henry Plummer, was elected Sheriff in May, 1863, he quickly began to have the original jail built, the first in what would soon become Montana Territory. He also built a gallows up the hill, which could be seen from the jail. Less than a year later, Plummer was suspected of leading a notorious gang of road agents called the Innocents and on

January 10, 1864 50 to 75 men gathered up Plummer and his two main deputies and marched them to those very same gallows that Plummer, himself, had built. All three were hanged. Plummer’s was the only body placed in a wooden coffin and none were buried in the cemetery, but instead all three were entombed in shallow graves in Hangman’s Gulch about a hundred yards up from the gallows.

Sometime later, another sturdier jail was built to hold Bannack criminals.

© Kathy Weiser/Legends of America, updated September, 2008

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From the Rocky Mountain General Store

Saloon Style Advertising Prints - What were on the walls of the saloons in the Old West?  Likely, much of the same as those you find today - advertisements for liquor, beer, and tobacco.  Plus the "decadent" women of the time.  In our Photo Print Shop, you'll find dozens of photographs for decorating your "real" saloon or den in a saloon type atmosphere.