Bannack

"The roads and boardwalks are deserted. The doors sway in the wind. There are no children laughing and adults gossiping. The gold rush is long over. It is but a memory left in old dusty journals. With nightfall the spirits return to tell their tales." - Sue Kaiser

These words grace the cover of the visitor's guide to the ghost town of Bannack, Montana. Unlike Montana's better known Virginia City and Nevada City, Bannack is a true ghost town, save the few employees who reside there. Operated by the Montana State Parks system, Bannack lies 24 miles southwest of Dillon along the banks of Grasshopper Creek. The town was founded in 1862 after the discovery of gold. While parts of the town have turned to dust, Bannack easily remains one of the most intact and well-preserved ghost towns in the West, thanks to the efforts of many, including the state and the Bannack Association. Last weekend afforded my brother and I an opportunity to visit this shrine to a bygone era.



If you ever find yourself in this part of Montana, take the time to visit Bannack and enjoy the history lessons it has to offer.

More information on Bannack can be found here: http://www.bannack.org/index.htm