The Montana Ghost Town Preservation Society
Castle, Montana
Gallatin City Hotel, Montana
More than 600 mining camps and towns existed at some time in Montana's
past. Most were temporary encampments with shelter provided by tents, shacks,
lean-tos and quickly built log cabins. Evidence of many of these camps vanished
almost as quickly as they had appeared when their inhabitants followed rumors
of other strikes.
The ghosts of many other towns remained essentially undisturbed for years
due to their often isolated locations. However, increased mobility of people
after WW II increased the human impact on ghost towns. That impact became
most acute beginning in the late '60s when weathered wood came into vogue
for paneling in home and businesses.
Sensing the value of Montana's ghost towns and aware of the rapid rate at
which they were disappearing, four concerned Bozemanites founded the non-profit
Montana Ghost Town Preservation Society in 1969. The goal of the Society
was defined "to preserve and maintain ghost towns and historic sties
in the state of Monatana, and to develop an appreciation of the cultural
benefits in the sites, buildings, and artifacts that are part of the living
museum formed from the beginnings of Montana."
The diversified membership is now made up of residents from many states
across the nation.
Preservation by the Society takes two forms --- informational and physical.
Informationally, the Society makes continuing efforts to inform the public
and elected officials of the urgent need to save the physical evidence of
our past --- before weather and/or vandals destroy it forever. A quarterly
newsletter and annual meetings are the two main informational outlets. In
addition, members have testified before State legislative committees to
obtain needed restoration funds and have given talks and slide presentations
to various groups.
Physical, hands-on projects have included:
Granite --- researched and obtained title to Miners Union Hall and
Superintendent Weirs' house; title was then presented to the Parks division
of Fish, Wildlife and Parks; volunteers restored the roof on Supt. Weir's
House; unfortunately, the Union Hall was lost to weather before work could
be done on it.
Elkhorn --- performed structural analysis and assisted financially
to obtain Fraternity Hall and the adjacent Saloon for a state park site.
Gallatin City --- stabilized the hotel.
Parker Homestead (near Three Forks) --- testimony helped obtain funds
for purchase; members were involved in Homestead "clean-up days."
For additional information or copies of a brochure, please contact
us at:
The Montana Ghost Town Preservation Society
P.O. Box 1861
Bozeman, MT 59771
406-522-3856
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