The 8th grade history teacher here in fort benton montana mid 1960s, mr. In 1967, the elkhorn womens club, compiled the citys history to commemorate the towns centennial year. My wife and i love to explore ghost towns in the old west, especially the ones that are located in such remote areas that few people ever visit them. Bold women in montana history with beth judy humanities montana. People still live in elkhornindeed more now than when i last visited 25 years ago. Jw harlan weaves a story of fictional characters facing sometimes nonfiction events in elkhorn, montana when the ghost town held promise for adventures during montana s mining rush. This is the view of elkhorn, montana as you walk up the elkhorn cemetery. Elkhorn hotsprings southwest montanas relaxation destination. Backcountry roads settle you into a 19th century mining landscape before you reach historic fraternity hall and gillian hall nestled within the privately owned town of elkhorn.
Legends of america photo prints mining ghost towns. Silver is found in elkhorn silver was discovered at the site of what would become the elkhorn in 1870 by peter wyes, a swiss immigrant looking for wealth in the wild west. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read ghost children in elkhorn, montana. Elkhorn history in 1868 the first mine was started in the elkhorns. Like elkhorn in the elkhorn mountans of southwestern montana. Today the unique location amidst the boreal forest within the riding mountain biosphere reserve puts responsible tourism at the top of our list. Holter, a virginia city pioneer started the elkhorn mine in 1875. In 1868 the first mine was started in the elkhorns. List of books and articles about montana history online.
The most famous remnant of montanas mining era is the ghost town at elkhorn. The western montana ghost town preservation society purchased the two structures for preservation because the wooden buildings are considered to be one of western americas most. In 1995, an eight grade class headed by carol richart compiled a second book chronicling elkhorn s development. But every ghost town enthusiast simply must see these two buildings. I took some pictures that turned out well and i have quite a bit of video. The historical town of elkhorn is perfect for those who love to explore and learn about montanas rich history. Fully twenty percent of the text is new or revised, incorporating the results of new research and new interpretations dealing with pre history, native american studies, oral history, and recent political history. Panning started in 1870 and soon changed to hard rock mining when the quartz lodes were discovered. Its principal mine, the elkhorn, was discovered around 1872 by peter wys, a native of switzerland, and has changed hands repeatedly. As the mine developed during the 1870s the town of elkhorn grew up around it. Of course the phrase ghost town is a brand name, not reality. A history of two centuries first appeared in 1976 and immediately became the standard work in its field. If you look hard you can see the backside of the fraternity hall and gillian halls. Mar 04, 2018 hot springs book reveals long wet history of montana soaks.
Although a far cry from what it used to be more than a 100 years ago, elkhorn still boasts of a number of original structures and few residents to boot. Allen also began buying claims and in 19 formed the boston montana mining company. We invite you to orient yourself by taking a guided tour or by reading through this introduction and exploring the site on your own. The author wrote and wanted to publish certain things about people who were still living, which created problems for him. One such silver mining locale was the town of elkhorn, founded in central montana in 1872. Located 40 miles south west of dillon montana, elkhorn hot springs is a primitive, family owned retreat nestled in the beautiful pioneer mountains. During this period, most mining operations in the region were smallscale operations which, for the most part, either reopened old mine workings or reworked old mine dumps.
Situated in the elkhorn mountains of montana is the once prosperous mining. Walter harvey weed 1901 in his report on the district discusses the elkhorn mine almost exclusively. Though it still boasts just a few remaining residents, this small town today is a far cry from the bustling activity it displayed more than a century ago. Through the eyes of pansy, a young girl who escaped the fate of so many other elkhorn children, we experience the tragedy that devastated the once prosperous town in the harsh year of 1889. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the dates you selected. It can only be reached through its neighboring town, boulder, by. From what i remember, there were publishing problems due to law suits. Elkhorn is a censusdesignated place cdp in jefferson county, montana, united states, in the elkhorn mountains of the southwestern part of the state. The montana mint is proud to bring to you the greatest books ever written about montana. This offthebeatenpath abandoned town is a relic of montana s silver mining boom.
The maps section of the toolbar contains printable pdf files of blank montana maps to download and print. Unlike many of the mining camps of the time, which were primarily populated by single male workers. Elkhorn coral, acropora palmata fremont, elkhorn and missouri valley railroad, sometimes called the elkhorn disambiguation page providing links to topics that could be referred to by the same search term. Ghost children in elkhorn, montana by colleen clancy hansen. Their book, 18671967 elkhorn, nebraska, the first century of progress can be found at the bess johnson library in elkhorn. Coolidge tumbling in the forest legends of america. Elkhorn state park boulder 2020 all you need to know before. If it werent for gillian hall and fraternity hall, which constitute the smallest state park in montana, elkhorn wouldnt be included in this book. Elkhorn state park rich with wildfire, history great falls tribune. Both buildings form montanas smallest state park in elkhorn.
You can find good information on and even a map to coolidge, montana by looking up a couple of web sites. We are a singlestory motel with cabins and exterior entrances to all of our units. From the blackfeet warrior, running eagle, to the stereotypesmashing librarian, alma jacobs, the eleven women portrayed in this engaging book were indeed bold. Its reserves are documented in the billions of dollars. The first third of book is history of these counties and the rest is biographical of important people at this time. After investigating the claims, the company began efforts to reopen the elkhorn mine and the following year the town of coolidge was born, named after william allens friend, calvin coolidge. Elkhorn hidden history and old west haunts of colorado. Discover 5starrated montana dude ranch accommodations just outside yellowstone national park. This history of elkhorn valley, nebraska, this includes counties of dodge, cuming, stanton, madison, antelope and holt. Elkhorn cemetery, in the southwestern part of montana, is high in the mountains east of boulder, off of i15. This book has no cover and is in poor condition, most all pages are except the last couple of pages. Enter into a historically accurate piece of montana history and human struggle. Go 7mi south on hwy 69, turn left over a small bridge then right onto gravel road miles, bearing left at each of two forks in the road. Our unique location offers the best of both worlds.
Elkhorn is just minutes away from several recreational sites such as the famous big hole river, crystal park, bannack state park, and maverick mountain. The elkhorn is one of the largest and likely most productive, but undervalued abandoned mines in all of the western states. The rush to elkhorn began when swiss prospector peter wys found rich silver ore in 1870. As far as ghost towns are concerned, elkhorn is a must for there is much to see. This offthebeatenpath abandoned town is a relic of montanas silver mining boom. Elkhorn, montana the rich history of a once booming silver town. The museum is now open by appointment only elkhorn s history was first documented in the book, 18671967 elkhorn, nebraska, the first century of progress, which was compiled and produced by the elkhorn womens club centennial book committee.
The elkhorn mine dominates the history of the district. The elkhorn mining district is located in the center of jefferson county, eight miles northwest of boulder. Two of the most photographed buildings in montana include gillian hall on the left and the fraternity hall on the right. Elkhorn, montana the rich history of a once booming. Montana mint the greatest website north of wyoming. Elkhorn, montana survives today legends of america.
The elkhorn has a long and detailed story that is well documented in the book one mans dream by shirley wirtz and lorene lovell. This website is rich in resources for teaching and learning about montana history. Elkhorn mountain is the site for an authentic ghost town that has been dead for threequarters of a century. Two environmental groups that successfully sued the bureau of land management over a project in the elkhorn mountains filed a second lawsuit. Transportation to and from the town was difficult until 1889 when the northern pacific railroad ran track to elkhorn. Elkhorn montana ghost town dating from the second wave of montana s gold and silver rushes, elkhorn has survived as one of the better ghost towns in the west. Early in 2008, the company applied to the montana department of environmental quality for a license to resume mining at what the owners now call the golden dream. Its rolling contours were thickly covered with oaks and its rich, black loam underlain with clay promised fertile farm acreage. Elkhorn hot springs in the big hole valley spans the length of that history. The elkhorn mine project is significant as an example of one of the few largescale silver mining projects in montana during the early part of the twentieth century.
Welcome to elkhorn cabins and inn in west yellowstone, montana. Elkhorn cabins and inn west yellowstone motel lodging. Hot springs book reveals long wet history of montana soaks. We have posted much of the material as pdf files, which can be viewed and printed with adobe acrobat reader. Escape the harsh demands of modern life with a relaxing trip filled with horseback ridiing, fishing, hiking and more in the old west. History lodes of silver, described by geologists as supergene enrichments, were initially discovered in the elkhorn mountains by peter wys, a swiss immigrant.
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