Ghost Towns and Mining Camps of Montana

MONTANA LEGENDS

Ghost Towns & Mining Camps of

Montana

There are numerous ghost towns in Montana that provide vivid peeks into the life in the Old West, especially at the many old mining camps located in the "Treasure State." From the time that gold was first discovered in Gold Creek in 1852 to the first major gold rush boom in Bannack in July, 1862, and all the way through today, millions of dollars in gold, silver, copper, zinc and other precious ores have been scoured from the mountains of Montana. Some of the best known mining towns include such places as Virginia City and Nevada City in Alder Gulch; Bannack, where the first gold rush and first territorial capitol were located; Elkhorn and Comet, which continue to display numerous old structures; all the way up to Butte, which is not a ghost town, but has a long mining history.

Along with these many historic sites, legends and tales of outlaw gangs, road agents, ghosts and hidden treasures also abound along with the state's rich history.

Gold was first discovered at Gold Creek in what became

known as the Pioneer Mining District in 1852. This old

mining equipment in the creek, as well as numerous

tailings lining the banks, attest to later dredging to recover

any precious ore left in the area.

This image available for photographic prints and

downloads HERE!

Ghost Towns and Mining Camps:

Bannack - From Gold to Ghosts - Beaverhead County, mining camp ghost town, some 50 preserved buildings, currently a state park.

Barker & Hughesville - Ghost Camps in the Little Belt Mountains - Judith Basin County, two mining camps located just two miles apart, a few scattered cabins and mining remnants.

Basin - Mining Camp to Artist's Retreat - Jefferson County, semi-ghost, mining camp, active town of about 250 residents, historic buildings and mining remains.

Cable - Deer Lodge County, abandoned mining camp, just a few buildings and the Gold Coin Mine and Mill. Located on private property, but can be viewed from the highway.

Castle Town, aka: Castle City, Castle - Meager County, mining ghost town, no residents, just a few buildings, privately owned.

Charter Oak Mine & Mill - Powell County, mine, mill and a few buildings.

Coloma Mining District - Missoula County, just a few tumbling buildings and mining remains.

Coolidge - Tumbling in the Forest - Deer Lodge County, numerous tumbling buildings, mine and mill across the river is inaccessable.

Comet - Silent on the Eastern Slope - Jefferson County, numerous buildings in various states of decay, mill operations.

Cushman - Golden Valley County, fading remains of old ranching town.

Elkhorn Survives - Jefferson County, mining camp, ghost town, several remaining buildings, a few residents.

Ewing - Carbon County, ghost ranch, in Big Horn Canyon National Recreation Area.

Farlin - Beaverhead County, just a few remaining buildings and mining remains.

Garnet - Best Kept Ghost Town Secret - Granite County, mining ghost town, preserved by Bureau of Land Management, several buildings, on-site caretakers, no other residents.

Glendale - See Hecla Mining District

Gold Creek - Powell County, site of first gold discovery, no mining remains in town, but some just to the southwest of town.

Two of the most photographed buildings in Montana

include Gillian Hall on the left and the Fraternity hall on

the right. Both buildings form Montana's smallest state

park today. July, 2008, Kathy Weiser.

This image available for photographic prints and

downloads HERE!

Granite - Montana's Silver Queen - Granite County, mining camp, several buildings, mine and mill.

Hassel - Broadwater County, mining camp, active mining operation, a few old buildings.

Hecla Mining District - Beaverhead County, remains of several mining camps, including Hecla, Glendale, and Lion Mountain, a few remaining buildings and mining remains.

Hillsboro - Bighorn County, ghost ranch, Big Horn Canyon National Recreation Area.

Homestead - Sheridan County, semi-ghost, railroad/agriculture town, less than 50 residents, no active businesses.

Independence - Park County, mining camp located high in the Absaroka Range, several buildings including an old brothel, mining remains. Requires high clearance vehicle.

Jardine, aka: Bush - Park County, mining remains, old cabins.

Kendall - Fergus County, mining remains and a few old structures.

Kirkville - Clark County, just a few remaining buildings, private property.

Laurin - Madison County, not a ghost town, mining camp, several historic buildings.

Lion City - See Hecla Mining District

Marysville - Growing Once Again - Lewis and Clark County, mining camp, current residents, restored, preserved, and tumbling buildings. Mine is being reactivated.

Nevada City - Outdoor History Museum - Madison County, one time mining camp, collection of original, moved, and recreated buildings.

Pony - Madison County, mining town, semi-ghost, active residents, numerous historic buildings and mining remains

Princeton - Granite County, only a few dwellings occupied by summer residents.

Red Bluff - Madison County, just a couple of buildings, mining remains to the south.

Rochester - Madison county, mining camp, a few stone buildings and mining remains.

Rimini Lives On - Lewis and Clark County, mining camp, current residents, several historic buildings.

Southern Cross - Deer Lodge County, a few remaining buildings, endangered due to redevelopment.

Vipond/Quartz Hill - Beaverhead County, a few building and mining remains.

Virginia City - A Lively Ghost Town - Madison County, restored mining camp, active town, numerous historic buildings, caters to tourists.

Zortman - Phillips County, mining camp, mining and building ruins.

Cooldige's old school now sits in Elkhorn Creek,

Kathy Weiser, July, 2008.

This image available for photographic prints

and downloads HERE!

Numerous buildings have been dismantled from other

Montana areas and have been restored on Nevada City's

back streets. July, 2008, Kathy Weiser.

This image available for photographic prints and

downloads HERE!

Take nothing but photos - leave nothing but footprints - break nothing but silence - kill nothing but time.

--Explorer's Code

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