Magnet for Miners

A tour of Western Montana is rich in mining heritage, ghost towns and living history centers.

- CANDY MOULTON

Gold seekers started flooding into western Montana in 1863, setting off the first rush for riches and the establishment of the town of Bannack, which became the territorial capital of Montana the following year. Almost simultaneously prospectors found gold in Alder Gulch, and miners quickly rushed there and gave rise to Virginia City, which then became the territorial seat of government in 1865.

Today Bannack is a ghost town, and quite an interesting one at that, where about 50 of the structures from the town's heyday still line the dirt street. It is now Bannack State Park, which old seekers started flooding into western Montana in 1863, setting off the first rush for riches and the establishment of is open from Memorial Day to Labor Day with tours and a variety of activities.

Virginia City is a state historic site and compared with Bannack is still quite a going concern. Business continues in many of the town's historic structures and it is an easy stroll from one end of the commercial district to the other. This National Historic Landmark is open year around with a variety of key activities during the summer including the Alder Gulch Shortline Railroad operations and an opportunity to do some gold panning. Pick up some period attire at Ranks Mercantile before you attend the Brewery Follies, or have a libation at the Bale of Hay Saloon. On occasion the city also holds an 1865 Victorian ball.