Bannack is a tourist town, and usually we don't do tourist ghost towns but this one is quite unique. This old mining town was completely abandoned and has some beautiful old buildings. We visited all the open buildings and were fortunate to find a worker who let us into the Masonic Hall which had a schoolhouse on the bottom. A very unique building we are told they still have meetings here and a bit about its history. The hotel was my favorite building as it had a spiral staircase and can still be used for events. The whole town has a fascinating history and the houses have not been restored but instead are in their natural decaying state but protected by the state.
Many many houses and shops lined the street, an old mill can also be seen and a graveyard. This unique town was well worth our time and a small fee.
"Bannack was founded in 1862 when John White discovered gold on
Grasshopper Creek. As news of the gold strike spread
many prospectors and businessmen rushed to Bannack hoping to strike
it rich. In 1864, Bannack was named as the first
Territorial Capital of Montana. Remaining in Bannack for only a short
time, the Capital moved on to Virginia City. In
1863 gold had been discovered near Virginia City and at that time
many prospectors left Bannack in hopes of finding
the mother lode in Virginia City. However, some people stayed in
Bannack and explored the use of further mining techniques.
From the late 1860's to the 1930's, Bannack continued as a mining
town with a fluctuating population. By the 1950's gold workings
had dwindled and most folks had moved on. At that point the State of
Montana declared Bannack a State Park. Today, over sixty
structures remain standing, most of which can be explored."
http://www.bannack.org/
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| School interior |
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| School interior |
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| Hotel Interior |
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| Hotel Meade |
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| Inside the church |
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| Masonic Temple & School |
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