Montana

on location: west ❖

heather lee

Historic towns provide a peek into the Gold Rush era

Montana Office of Tourism Photo by Donnie Sexton

Bannack, site of Montana’s first big gold strike, soon turned into a ghost town, but many original buildings remain.

M O N T AN A’S M I N I N G

roups looking for some riproaring chapters in America’s pioneer past can strike it rich in the Gold West Region of Montana.

Located in the southwestern part of the state between Glacier and Yellowstone national parks, the broad expanse of forests, lakes and rivers sprang to prominence overnight in 1862 with the

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H E R I T A G E

discovery of gold in Bannack. A year later Bannack’s population soared to over 3,000 and it became the territorial capital. Prosperity, though, was shortlived; within two years the Alder Gulch of Virginia City overtook Bannack in gold abundance. Bannack became a ghost town.

Despite such a fall, today Bannack

features more than 60 of the original buildings. Highlights include Graves House, built in the 1860s; Masonic Temple, which housed Bannack’s school; and Meade Hotel, originally the Beaverhead County Courthouse.

In 1954 Bannack was designated a state park. Bannack Days, a two-day festival held the third weekend of July, LeisureGroupTravel.com

Montana Heritage Commission

celebrates the history of Montana’s pioneers and mining endeavors.

Alder Gulch, also known as Alder Creek, would become one of the largest gold producers in history. Discovered

by Bill Fairweather in 1863, the gulch produced $10 million the first year.

Cities sprang up along the creek, the most prominent being Virginia City and Nevada City. With a population of 10,000 in a year, Virginia City replaced

Bannack as the capital in 1865.

When the gold supply ran out in the Alder Gulch, Virginia City was able to survive, avoiding the fate of becoming a ghost town. However, with depleted wealth and prominence, the town was unable to develop and remodel. Because of this, Virginia City is one of the best preserved Victorian mining towns,

Donnie Sexton

The historic mining town of Nevada City is now an open-air museum.

Montana’s early days come alive in the Gold Rush town of Virginia City.

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its development frozen at its Gold Rush height. Exceptional examples of 1850s buildings, most filled with original artifacts, line Main Street.

Today Virginia City has 150 yearround residents, a population that doubles during the summer months when visitors throng the streets to see the town’s 100 historic sites. One of the oldest structures in the city is the Montana Post Building, which housed the state’s first newspaper. In Hangman’s Building, an exposed beam used to hang four men in 1864 still remains.

Outlaws who were hanged were buried hastily at Boot Hill, with boots still on.

The Visitor Center and Museum Store provides an introduction to Virginia City’s history. Other attractions include Virginia City Historical Museum, Wells-Fargo Overland Company Building, J. Spencer Watkins Memorial Museum and Thompson-Hickman Memorial Museum.

The town is also known for its entertainment. The Virginia City Players began in 1949 and is Montana’s oldest professional acting company, performing at the historic Opera House. Brewery Follies, famous throughout Montana, June 2011 73

on location: west ❖

Donnie Sexton

features Old West period melodramas nightly in the summer.

Located a mile and a half from Virginia City is the small ghost town of Nevada City. Restored between 1945 and 1978, it is now an open-air museum with 100 original wooden buildings and 40 living history interpreters. Because of its authentic buildings and setting, the town has been a prime spot for Western movies such as Return to the Lonesome Dove and Missouri Breaks. The Alder Gulch Short Line train connects Nevada City to Virginia City.

As Virginia City replaced Bannack as the capital, Helena became the capital after Virginia City’s decline. Located in the foothills of the Montana Rockies, Helena was a prosperous mining town in 1865; only Manhattan boasted more millionaires. The gold was found in Last Chance Gulch, so named by the four miners who discov-

Helena, the capital of Montana, abounds with historical attractions and has a lively arts scene. The Last Chance Tour Train hits the highlights.

Donnie Sexton

Old Helena highlights miner houses and shops built in the 1870s.

Other sites include Helena’s State Capitol Building in the Greek Renaissance style. Topped by a Montana Nevada City, a genuine ghost town, has copper dome, it contains the has been used in Hollywood movies. largest painting of Lewis and Clark by Charlie Russell. The Catheered it since it was their “last chance” to dral of St. Helena, finished in 1924, feaprosper in the Gold Rush. tures twin 230-foot spires and Bavarian Today, Helena remains Montana’s stained-glass windows. Between 1913 capital and is a bustling center for the and 1959, Montana’s governors lived in arts and outdoor activities. Architecthe Victorian-style Governor’s Manturally significant buildings are scatsion, which is available for tours. A tered throughout the city. The Pioneer great way to see these sites is through Cabin, Helena’s oldest surviving home, Last Chance Tours Train, a train engine dates from 1864 and houses a museum on wheels that winds through Helena. of the Gold Rush. Reeder’s Alley in 74 June 2011

Montana’s Gold West Region enjoyed prosperity and decline during the Gold Rush. For today’s visitors, Bannack, Virginia City, Nevada City and Helena provide a glimpse into America’s mining history and westward expansion. LGT Obtain Montana visitor guides and itineraries – and contact groupfriendly suppliers directly – at leisuregrouptravel.com/instant-info

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE For more information on touring Montana’s capital city, see the Helena article at http://leisuregrouptravel.com/ ?p=23615.

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