BANNACK

Bannack is one of the best preserved ghost towns I have ever visited.
Grasshopper Creek, where a major gold discovery lead to a gold rush.
Unlike Elkhorn State Park, which is the size of two small buildings, Bannack State Park is bigger. This is the visitor center where I bought a booklet of what buildings were what. I am pretty much going to use it a lot in the following descriptions.
The main drag of Bannack. The preserved structures line either side.
The Assay Office on the left was one of the most important buildings in Bannack. Next to it was the city drug store.
There were several school trips visiting that day. I was lucky to get photos without kids in them.
Built in 1875 for $14,000, the Beaverton County Courthouse was the first brick courthouse in Montana. In 1880 the Utah and Northern Railroad built a terminus at nearby Dillon. As Dillon became an economic center of the county, the county seat was moved there in 1881.
Left empty for a decade, the building was purchased by Dr. John Singleton Meade for $1250.00 and remodeled it into a fine hotel. Hotel Meade continued operation on and off until the 1940's.
Skinner's Saloon. It was frequented by Henry Plummer's gang of outlaw road agents known as the Innocents. Remember when I mentioned those five guys who were hanged in that building in Virginia City? They were part of that gang.
There isn't too much that is not located on the town's main street, but there are a few things including a cemetery on the hill.
There was no indication as to what this small structure was, but it looks like some of the lean-to's I have seen in other mining ghost towns.
So how does this sign make sense?
The gallows were built north of town on orders of Henry Plummer, who was sheriff at the time. This structure looks a little new to be the original.
This cemetery was used from 1862 to about 1880. The tall marker on the left is for Henry S. Trask, who died on December 19, 1865 at 18 years and 18 days of age and Charles S. Trask, who died on October 9, 1870 at 5 years, 7 months and 24 days.

The other marker is for Cordelia A. Pond, wife of Henry S. Pond, who was born on February 23, 1852 and died September 27, 1875.
Little Horace L. Herr died on February 17, 1879 a few days short of his second birthday.

Looking down the hill to the town.

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