Filed Under Bannack

Bannack Historic District

National Historic Landmark

Bannack epitomizes the tough, primitive towns that sprang up with gold discoveries. Its story also illustrates a century of survival, through boom and bust periods associated with resource extraction and technological advances. On July 28, 1862, prospectors John White and company made a lucky strike, triggering Montana’s first major gold rush. Miners—many from Idaho’s crowded Salmon River diggings—swarmed over the Continental Divide. By spring 1863, Bannack had 3,000 inhabitants. The town saw six vigilante hangings, including that of its infamous sheriff, Henry Plummer. Briefly designated capital of the new Montana Territory in 1864, the first legislature met here in a crude log cabin. While other gold strikes stole Bannack’s initial population, the town rebounded in the 1870s and served as the Beaverhead County seat until 1881. The Masonic Lodge Hall/School (1874), Methodist Church (1877), and the Hotel Meade built as the Beaverhead County courthouse (1875) reflect this period. Evidence of hydraulic, dredge, and hard rock mining interrupt the landscape. Montana’s first quartz claims initiated hard rock mining here in 1862 and stamp mills soon operated alongside placer mining. Changing technologies produced new boom periods and other changes to Bannack. Electrification of the mines in 1930 brought electricity to the town. Despite its varied fortunes, the community held together while local mills operated sporadically until World War II. The State of Montana acquired most of the town in 1954, and a few residents remained until the early 1970s. Bannack features multi-period buildings spanning the primitive 1860s, urbanized 1870s-1880s, and early twentieth century. In 1961, Bannack earned status as a National Historic Landmark.

Audio

Bannack's Masonic Lodge Audio recording about the Bannack Masonic Lodge which also functioned as Bannack's school. Prepared and recorded by Montana Historical Society staff member Ellen Baumler. Presented on the Soundcloud channel "Montana History on the Go" 2015. Source: Montana History on the Go Creator: Ellen Baumler Date: 2015
The Meade Saga Audio recording about the hardships endured by the founders of the Meade Hotel. Prepared and recorded by Montana Historical Society staff member Ellen Baumler. Presented on the Soundcloud channel "Montana History on the Go" 2015. Source: Montana History on the Go Creator: Ellen Baumler Date: 2015
Henry Plummer Audio recording about the Bannack Masonic Lodge which also functioned as Bannack's school. Prepared and recorded by Montana Historical Society staff member Ellen Baumler. Presented on the Soundcloud channel "Montana History on the Go" 2016. Source: Montana History on the Go Creator: Ellen Baumler Date: 2016

Images

Courthouse, Bannack
Courthouse, Bannack Bannack, Montana, courthouse. [1860s] later the Hotel Meade. Catalog #940-704 Source: Montana Historical Society Research Center Photograph Archives, Helena, Montana Creator: Photographer H.W. Brown; Bannack MT Date: ca. 1860
Bannack, Montana looking west
Bannack, Montana looking west Bannack, Montana, circa 1900. Looking west up the stream, west mountains in the distance. The dredge (on the left) was launched in 1895 Catalog #940-695 Source: Montana Historical Society Research Center Photograph Archives, Helena, MT Creator: Unidentified photographer Date: ca. 1900
Map of Bannack City, Montana [Territory]
Map of Bannack City, Montana [Territory] Sketch map was copied from a map owned by James U. Sanders, and includes some topography, streets and wagon roads, placer- and quartz-gold workings and mills, water-supply ditches, and buildings keyed to an accompanying list descriptive of historical events between 1863 and 1866. Additional lists provide supplemental information. Digitized copy available on the Montana History Portal. Source: Montana History Portal Creator: Thompson, Francis M. Date: 1864
Streetview, Bannack
Streetview, Bannack Bannack, Montana, 1860s. Catalog #940-703 Source: Montana Historical Society Research Center Photograph Archives, Helena, Montana Creator: Unidentified Photographer Date: ca. 1860
Main Street, Bannack
Main Street, Bannack Bannack, Montana - Main Street, 1920. Buildings left to right: Courthouse, Hotel Goodrich, unidentified, and Graves Store. Catalog #940-715 Source: Montana Historical Society Research Center Photograph Archives, Helena, Montana Creator: Photograph by E.C. Schoettner; Butte; Montana Date: 1920
Legislative Hall, Montana Territory
Legislative Hall, Montana Territory First Legislative Hall of Montana Territory, 1863. Bannack, Montana. Catalog #940-701b Source: Montana Historical Society Research Center Photograph Archives, Helena, Montana Creator: Unidentified photographer Date: 1863
First governor's residence
First governor's residence Residence of Montana's first governor, 1863, when Bannack was the territory capital. Catalog #940-707 Source: Montana Historical Society Research Center Photograph Archives, Helena, Montana Creator: Unidentified photographer Date: March 1907
First Montana jail
First Montana jail First Montana jail, constructed in 1862. [photograph from the Delta Kappa Gamma scrapbook of Lucia Darling 1942.] Catalog#940-711 Source: Montana Historical Society Research Center Photograph Archives, Helena, Montana Creator: Unidentified phtoographer Date: ca. 1942
Bannack-Bon Accord Drifting Machine
Bannack-Bon Accord Drifting Machine Bannack-Bon Accord Drifting Machine [no date] Catalog #PAc 80-61 Drifting Source: Montana Historical Society Research Center Photograph Archives, Helena, MT Creator: Photograph by Tribune Pub. Co.; Dillon; MT Date: [no date]
Meade Hotel, Bannack, MT
Meade Hotel, Bannack, MT Source: Montana State Historic Preservation Office, Helena, MT Creator: Kate Hampton Date: June 2012
Meade Hotel, Bannack, MT
Meade Hotel, Bannack, MT Source: Montana State Historic Preservation Office, Helena, MT Creator: Kate Hampton Date: June 2012
Meade Hotel, Bannack, MT
Meade Hotel, Bannack, MT View of grand staircase in lobby Source: Montana State Historic Preservation Office, Helena, MT Creator: Kate Hampton Date: June 2012
Masonic Hall and schoolhouse
Masonic Hall and schoolhouse The Bannack Masonic Hall and schoolhouse, built in 1874, held a schoolroom on the first floor, and Masonic meeting room on the second floor. Source: Montana State Historic Preservation Office Creator: Kate Hampton Date: June 2012
Buildings, Bannack, MT
Buildings, Bannack, MT Source: Montana State Historic Preservation Office Creator: Kate Hampton Date: June 2012
Bannack, MT
Bannack, MT Source: Montana State Historic Preservation Office, Helena, MT Creator: Kate Hampton Date: June 2012
Buildings, Bannack, MT
Buildings, Bannack, MT Source: Montana State Historic Preservation Office Creator: Kate Hampton Date: June 2012
Bannack School Masonic Temple
Bannack School Masonic Temple Photo of exterior of building. Source: Montana Historical Society Creator: Tom Ferris, photographer Date: 28 August, 2021
Bannack Historic District
Bannack Historic District Photo of buildings lining street. Source: Montana Historical Society Creator: Tom Ferris, photographer Date: 28 August, 2021

Location

25 miles west-southwest of Dillon off MT Highway 278, Montana | Public

Metadata

The Montana National Register Sign Program, “Bannack Historic District,” Historic Montana, accessed March 28, 2024, https://historicmt.org/items/show/2212.