{"id":2212,"featured":0,"modified":"2026-04-17 19:40:13","latitude":45.161020100000001775697455741465091705322265625,"longitude":-112.99386390000000801592250354588031768798828125,"title":"Bannack Historic District","subtitle":"National Historic Landmark","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/60a39a83188d7687aa789f9d8cd17a66.jpg","address":"25 miles west-southwest of Dillon off MT Highway 278, Montana","all_locations":[],"zoom":10,"creator":["Montana National Register Sign Program"],"description":"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.","sponsor":null,"accessinfo":"Public","lede":"","website":"<a href=\"http://stateparks.mt.gov/bannack/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bannack State Park</a>","related_resources":["<a href=\"https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/4a93f817-e7b5-4407-959d-0ce0cba47882\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Read more about the Bannack Historic District</a>","<a href=\"https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/8800d5fc-4e70-46be-8f45-576ba0dd610d/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">See buildings in the Bannack Historic District</a>"],"factoids":[],"files":{"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/60a39a83188d7687aa789f9d8cd17a66.jpg":{"id":362,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Courthouse, Bannack","description":"Bannack, Montana, courthouse. [1860s] later the Hotel Meade. Catalog #940-704 | Montana Historical Society Research Center Photograph Archives, Helena, Montana | ca. 1860 | Photographer H.W. Brown; Bannack MT","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/60a39a83188d7687aa789f9d8cd17a66.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/85840578668a7879eb65b9c57a7cf60e.jpg":{"id":171,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Bannack, Montana looking west","description":"Bannack, Montana, circa 1900.<br />\r\nLooking west up the stream, west mountains in the distance.<br />\r\nThe dredge (on the left) was launched in 1895<br />\r\nCatalog #940-695 | Montana Historical Society Research Center Photograph Archives, Helena, MT | ca. 1900 | Unidentified photographer","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/85840578668a7879eb65b9c57a7cf60e.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/b9a0bb7b3debfaf8301440c0bbe6631c.jpg":{"id":155,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Map of Bannack City, Montana [Territory]","description":"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. <br />Digitized copy available on the <a href=\"https://www.mtmemory.org/nodes/view/87824\">Montana History Portal</a>. | <a href=\"https://www.mtmemory.org/nodes/view/87824\">Montana History Portal</a> | 1864 | Thompson, Francis M.","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/b9a0bb7b3debfaf8301440c0bbe6631c.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/777ea866962978e66509c133ac61208e.jpg":{"id":360,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Streetview, Bannack","description":"Bannack, Montana, 1860s. Catalog #940-703 | Montana Historical Society Research Center Photograph Archives, Helena, Montana | ca. 1860 | Unidentified Photographer","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/777ea866962978e66509c133ac61208e.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/a026a355cd14078efff06121bb10e633.jpg":{"id":359,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Main Street, Bannack","description":"Bannack, Montana - Main Street, 1920.  Buildings left to right: Courthouse, Hotel Goodrich, unidentified, and Graves Store. Catalog #940-715 | Montana Historical Society Research Center Photograph Archives, Helena, Montana | 1920 | Photograph by E.C. Schoettner; Butte; Montana","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/a026a355cd14078efff06121bb10e633.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/6a669e43108aa0c42ba5445622a42be6.jpg":{"id":356,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Legislative Hall, Montana Territory","description":"First Legislative Hall of Montana Territory, 1863.  Bannack, Montana. Catalog #940-701b | Montana Historical Society Research Center Photograph Archives, Helena, Montana | 1863 | Unidentified photographer","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/6a669e43108aa0c42ba5445622a42be6.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/d0c11bd586d3b3795c4443bcd582a52b.jpg":{"id":358,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"First governor&#039;s residence","description":"Residence of Montana&#039;s first governor, 1863, when Bannack was the territory capital. Catalog #940-707<br />\r\n | Montana Historical Society Research Center Photograph Archives, Helena, Montana | March 1907 | Unidentified photographer","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/d0c11bd586d3b3795c4443bcd582a52b.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/f1d962bc60fa34f254cafb6c2d47b329.jpg":{"id":363,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"First Montana jail","description":"First Montana jail, constructed in 1862. [photograph from the Delta Kappa Gamma scrapbook of Lucia Darling 1942.] Catalog#940-711 | Montana Historical Society Research Center Photograph Archives, Helena, Montana | ca. 1942 | Unidentified phtoographer","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/f1d962bc60fa34f254cafb6c2d47b329.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/c79bb0fcd8e9d577b117422ef0b05e27.jpg":{"id":152,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Bannack-Bon Accord Drifting Machine","description":"Bannack-Bon Accord Drifting Machine<br />\r\n[no date] Catalog #PAc 80-61 Drifting | Montana Historical Society Research Center Photograph Archives, Helena, MT | [no date] | Photograph by Tribune Pub. Co.; Dillon; MT","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/c79bb0fcd8e9d577b117422ef0b05e27.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/original/eb34b2974ce77579c05330fe82cf90d9.mp3":{"id":345,"mime-type":"audio/mpeg","title":"Bannack&#039;s Masonic Lodge","description":"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 <a href=\"https://soundcloud.com/montana-historical-society/bannacks-masonic-lodge?in=montana-historical-society/sets/history-on-the-go-1\">Soundcloud </a>channel \"Montana History on the Go\" 2015. | Montana History on the Go | 2015 | Ellen Baumler"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/original/3c2040695e161abd7295524a0a3bb982.mp3":{"id":353,"mime-type":"audio/mpeg","title":"The Meade Saga","description":"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 <a href=\"https://soundcloud.com/montana-historical-society/the-meade-saga?in=montana-historical-society/sets/history-on-the-go-1\">Soundcloud</a> channel \"Montana History on the Go\" 2015. | Montana History on the Go | 2015 | Ellen Baumler"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/original/93509be17b8a37ce0839bd44f2160d89.mp3":{"id":490,"mime-type":"audio/mpeg","title":"Henry Plummer","description":"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 <a href=\"https://soundcloud.com/montana-historical-society/henry-plummer?in=montana-historical-society/sets/history-on-the-go-1\">Soundcloud</a> channel \"Montana History on the Go\" 2016. | Montana History on the Go | 2016 | Ellen Baumler"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/2773189707b41f2a48a47424f461b01d.jpg":{"id":690,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Meade Hotel, Bannack, MT","description":"Montana State Historic Preservation Office, Helena, MT | June 2012 | Kate Hampton","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/2773189707b41f2a48a47424f461b01d.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/e691110410b41bab0c870bf9b6496bfa.jpg":{"id":689,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Meade Hotel, Bannack, MT","description":"Montana State Historic Preservation Office, Helena, MT | June 2012 | Kate Hampton","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/e691110410b41bab0c870bf9b6496bfa.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/ea7adbb828492caddf20d487656fda15.jpg":{"id":686,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Meade Hotel, Bannack, MT","description":"View of grand staircase in lobby | Montana State Historic Preservation Office, Helena, MT | June 2012 | Kate Hampton","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/ea7adbb828492caddf20d487656fda15.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/e5c63636e8cff8d23e93b251f33851b4.jpg":{"id":695,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Masonic Hall and schoolhouse","description":"The Bannack Masonic Hall and schoolhouse, built in 1874, held a schoolroom on the first floor, and Masonic meeting room on the second floor. | Montana State Historic Preservation Office | June 2012 | Kate Hampton","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/e5c63636e8cff8d23e93b251f33851b4.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/38a8bb75b3f9e8e4d41c0a469da05790.jpg":{"id":691,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Buildings, Bannack, MT","description":"Montana State Historic Preservation Office | June 2012 | Kate Hampton","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/38a8bb75b3f9e8e4d41c0a469da05790.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/cd155b1f5fbb7a3fe768772bfff87f38.jpg":{"id":688,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Bannack, MT","description":"Montana State Historic Preservation Office, Helena, MT | June 2012 | Kate Hampton","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/cd155b1f5fbb7a3fe768772bfff87f38.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/1e25008838ee1586ffb25ae62eac54c1.jpg":{"id":693,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Buildings, Bannack, MT","description":"Montana State Historic Preservation Office | June 2012 | Kate Hampton","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/1e25008838ee1586ffb25ae62eac54c1.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/03f806d3acd7579277f2e82574922172.jpg":{"id":6005,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Bannack School Masonic Temple","description":"Photo of exterior of building.  | Montana Historical Society | 28 August, 2021 | Tom Ferris, photographer","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/03f806d3acd7579277f2e82574922172.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/6f9c9630254fde2da28468225384183a.jpg":{"id":6006,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Bannack Historic District","description":"Photo of buildings lining street. | Montana Historical Society | 28 August, 2021 | Tom Ferris, photographer","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/6f9c9630254fde2da28468225384183a.jpg"}}}