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Montana Vacation Guide

Ghost Towns in Montana

RED LODGE POST

Adventure and the lure of riches brought thousands of prospectors to Montana (before statehood) in the late 19th century. In 1862, pay dirt was hit at Grasshopper Creek in southwest Montana. In a matter of months, thousands of miners flooded to the region. A town called Bannack City was born.




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After the gold ran out, Bannack’s miners moved on to the next big strike. The mining camp built when the miners first arrived was abandoned. Wisely, years later, citizens made Bannack a state park, Bannack State Park. Bannack may be the best-preserved ghost town in the west. Every year, thousands of visitors explore Bannack State Park.

In 1863 more gold was discovered along Alder Gulch near present day Virginia City. Today, Virginia City is a “living ghost town.” Virginia City retains its historic roots, even while small businesses seek new-found riches in the pockets of visitors who come to Virginia City every year, hoping experience a little of Montana’s colorful past.

Virginia City MT
Merchants find treasure in the pockets of tourists at a Virginia City, Montana, ghost town. Photo courtesy Sandy Archives.

In 1864 gold was also discovered near Helena in an area fittingly called Last Chance Gulch. By some accounts, this strike produced about $19,000,000 of gold in four years. No ghost town here: Last Chance Gulch is now a prosperous and thriving main street for the city of Helena.

A few years later, in 1870, miners found silver in the Elkhorn Mountains south of Helena. The town they left behind after the silver declined is a well-preserved ghost town called Elkhorn. Some 50 of the town’s original buildings still stand. An old cemetery is nearby, a place where interred bones of miners and their families rest in peace. Some of these miners likely made tidy sum of money for their mining efforts. Elkhorn is now part of Elkhorn State Park.

Elkhorn Ghost Town MT
Elkhorn Ghost Town, near Boulder, Montana. Photo by Tech Sgt. Chad Thompson, courtesy U.S. Air Force, Malstrom Air Force Base, Great Falls, MT. Air Force Reference VIRIN: 150719-F-XA056-013.jpg

Mineral riches were also found in other areas of western Montana. Granite County near Philipsburg boasts a few ghost towns that attract many visitors. Buildings of early mining settlements still claim a part of the landscape at places called Garnet, Southern Cross, Granite, Black Pine, and Red Lion.

At the Granite County Museum in Philipsburg, a replica of an underground silver mine was built in 1996 to give visitors a picture of a mining shaft and to show the equipment used to move riches from the earth.

Ghost towns make wonderful places to visit. They are a window into early days of the west. The architecture of the buildings that still exist serves as testimony to the hopes and dreams of many who came west in the early days before the true pioneers arrived to settle the land in a more permanent way. Every visitor to Montana should experience a ghost town, fun and much to learn from.





Absaroka Mountain, Mont.

© 2021 John Sandy

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Current weather in Montana cities: Check the weather often.  Find weather here for cities across the state. Weather can change quickly in the mountains and on the plains. Be prepared.

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About Montana

Enjoy the Treasure State. Learn about people and places.

 

 

 

Books on travel in the Treasure State. A few history books, too. Snag and read a few books before you go.

 

Hotels and Bed & Breakfasts

Wonderful lodging of all kinds is available for travelers in most cities, big and small. Here are a few choices that are sure to please. Prices for rooms are a bit higher during the peak tourist season. Lodging in Montana is still a good value, however.

Explore The Best

Experience the Treasure State

  • Adventure Fly Fishing on the Madison River in Montana
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  • Dining on Culinary Journey to Bozeman, Montana
  • An Adventure Horseback Riding in Montana
  • Go to Official Montana Travel Website
  • Highest Mountain Peaks in Montana, with Elevation, County, and Mountain Range
  • Gates of the Mountains. Montana Painting for Sale
  • Fishing in the Bitterroot River in Montana
  • Fishing on the Madison River in Montana
  • Fishing the Upper Missouri River in Montana
  • Minnesota farms and farming undergo major changes in 1940s and 1950s: A revolution in farm machinery sweep the land
  • Horseback Riding in Montana
  • Trip planning Glacier National Park Montana.
  • Skiing Montana
  • Radon Health Mines
  • Glacier Park Chalets
  • Thomas Cruse: Prospector, Banker, and Rancher
  • Lookout Cabin Rentals
  • Montana National Forests
  • Bozeman Hotels
  • Yellowstone Park Entrances
  • Current Weather in Montana
  • Glacier Park Webcams
  • Blackfeet Tribe and Glacier Park
  • Saint Mary Lake
  • Glacier Reborn
  • Wildlife Refuges
  • Montana on my Mind
  • Best Museums
  • Ghost Towns in Montana
  • Many Glacier Hotel
  • Luxury Ranches and Resorts
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RSS Glacier Official News

  • Glacier Park updates for Mother’s Day weekend 08/05/2025
  • Glacier National Park Taking Comments on Multiple Utility Projects 06/03/2025
  • Glacier National Park’s Fire Management Plan Environmental Assessment available for public input 10/02/2025
  • Timed Entry Vehicle Reservations open February 13 07/02/2025

RSS Yellowstone Official News

  • Man gored by bison in Yellowstone National Park 07/05/2025
  • Select Yellowstone National Park entrances and roads open to public April 18 10/04/2025
  • Yellowstone National Park's winter season begins Dec. 15, 2024 10/12/2024

Hiking In Helena Montana

Want to go hiking in the mountains. Try the trail that goes to the top of Mt. Helena, in Helena. This is an easy one even for young people. Elevation at top, 5,468 feet. Biking allowed too. The view of the mountains to the south and west from the top is awesome.

Don’t Miss in Montana

Montana Historical Society Museum in Helena. *** Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park. *** Bigfork, a quaint and charming town in the wilderness. *** Funky downtown Missoula.

Shop Merino Wool Clothing

Made is Montana is always special. For the finest Merino Wool clothing go online to DuckworthCo.com. Wool used in their products comes from sheep raised on a ranch in southwest Montana.

Montana Luxury Vacations

Luxury vacation destinations offer extra nice lodging, great cuisine, and abundant activities, all in beautiful surroundings:. Triple Creek Ranch near Darby, Montana in the Bitterroot Valley offers so much. (406) 821-4600. TrippleCreekRanch.com. *** The Resort at Paws Up near Greenough, Montana, located 35 minutes northeast of Missoula, rivals the best. (877) 580-6343. PawsUp.com *** The Sage Lodge, a few miles south of Livingston, Montana, offers luxury and great amenities. This is a new resort. In a word, very Nice. (855) 400-0505. SageLodge.com *** The Silver Bow Club, in southwest Montana, offers luxury and wonderful outdoor activities. In Divide, Montana. (406) 491-2157. Silverbowclub.com ***

Gold Prospecting Supplies

The Prospector Shop is on U.S. Highway 12 a few miles west of Helena, Montana. A great place to pick up all kinds of supplies needed for prospecting. Gold mining pans and more. Nice souvenirs here too for wanna-be prospectors. Call (406) 442-1872.

Starbucks in Montana Too

Hey you are in far away Montana.  But finding a familiar coffee shop is a good thing.  Starbucks coffee houses:  in Billings (Grand Avenue); in Kalispell (Main Street); in Bozeman (Main Street) in Missoula (Reserve Avenue); in Helena (Prospect Avenue); in Great Falls (10th Ave. South).

Photo gallery Montana (click on image below)

Blackfeet Nation

Blackfeet Nation (Native Americans) seek to keep cultural traditions alive. Their reservation borders the east side of Glacier National Park in north-central Montana. Flathead Beacon story.

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