Bannack Celebrates Its Fiftieth Anniversary As A Montana State Park

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Bannack, one of the West’s most colorful ghost towns, celebrates 50 years as a Montana State Park as visitors from around the world come to walk its silvery gray boardwalks lined by sage brush as tall as a man. Bannack became a Montana State Park in 1954.

“Bannack is one of the grande dames of ghost towns in the West,” said Angie Hurley, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks manager of the site. “Its riotous past includes a stint as Montana’s first territorial capital and a key role in the nefarious workings of the of the Plummer gang,” said Hurley.

  On July 28, 1862, John White discovered gold on Grasshopper Creek and the town of Bannack sprang up. In 1864 Bannack became Montana’s first territorial capital. As the rich gold deposits were mined from little Grasshopper Gulch the accompanying   shenanigans, thievery, bravery and high living bought Bannack a place in history.

Today, most of Bannack’s buildings are in good condition and can be toured by visitors.

  “Bannack today remains as good as the gold it was known for,” Hurley said. “The ghost town draws visitors into Montana history in a way no text book could. And, by attracting so many here, it continues to contribute to the Montana tourist economy in this part of the state.”

  To celebrate Bannack’s 50 years as a Montana State Park and to help visitors prepare for their next visit, Hurley offered this quick quiz on Bannack history.

Bannack History Quiz      * Name of the bar that was once the only building that remained open as a business at Bannack by 1951.

                (Ox Bow Bar)

* First known white men to see the Beaverhead Valley near Bannack.

              (Lewis and Clark’s Expedition in 1805)

* Number of miners who weathered the first winter in Bannack following the discovery of gold on Grasshopper Creek.

                (400)

* The infamous gang that robbed miners in the 1860s and was led by the Sheriff of Bannack, Henry Plummer.

                   (The Plummer gang)

* This ranch served as headquarters for the Henry Plummer gang during its reign of terror when it methodically robbed local miners and travelers.

                (Rattlesnake Ranch)

* Most of the Plummer gang’s hold-ups occurred here.

                (The 90-mile stretch of road between Virginia City at Alder Gulch and Bannack.)

* Plummer’s gang referred to themselves by this name.

                (The Innocents)

* Those who hunted down the Plummer gang and resided in Virginia City, Nevada City and Bannack.

               (The Vigilantes)

* Member of the gang who fingered Henry Plummer as the gang’s leader.

              (Red Yeager)

*Source: Montana Pay Dirt, Guide to the Mining Camps of the Treasure State by Muriel S. Wolle