Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Bannack SP Mining Village c. 1862

School house first floor, Masonic Lodge second floor

Named after the Bannock Indians, the buildings in this old mining village have seen many uses.  This one above was the school house on the lower level, and the Masonic Lodge on the second floor.  Note the village name was mistaken when it was submitted to the Post Office, thus becoming BannAck instead of BannOck.

Bannack Jail

Every village needs a jail…Hotel Meade, c. 1862

And a hotel (Hotel Meade)…

Methodist Church; bootlegger cabin

A Methodist Church…next door is a bootlegger cabin…Skinner's Saloon

…as well as a saloon (Skinner’s Saloon)…mining artifacts

…and some mining artifacts…

This neat village is outside Dillon, MT.  We spent the night there in the campground, which entitled us to enter the park village for free.  It has gone from gold town to ghost town, but as we walked the street and boardwalk and explored the many buildings, we could only imagine the bustle of activity that filled the area with laughter, sorrow, gossip and greed all those many years ago.

From the town booklet:

“Bannack is not a dead ghost town, but a living classroom.  For future generations to understand how far and from where we have come, we must recall our past, both the good and the bad.” ~Stan Smith

Stay tuned for the Griswold’s next adventure, y’all!  We are off exploring today.  Go check out my Montana ‘10 photos for more photos of the village.  Click on that link in yesterday’s post.

11 comments:

ivana said...

Thank you, Sandy!!!
The past lives among us, we have to consider, that we are our past...
I think you are going to sleep, I'm standing up!
Here cloudy, a cooler air, I can work better, finally!
I watched the albums, superb!!!
Have a great Tuesday!!!

See you!
Hugs!

Sarge Charlie said...

I love traveling with the Griswolds, this is my kind of stuff.

Haley D. said...

What a neat place! I agree with the gentleman's comments about it being a part of history and today. (Glad I don't have to teach in that school house though!)

Anonymous said...

Loved the Governor's Mansion! I wonder where the Security Guard's Gate was?

Big hugs :)

Anonymous said...

wow, beautiful photos today! Take me to the next place :)

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

what an interesting place! reminds me, in a way, (!) of cades cove with different kinds of buildings. loved that place!

smiles, bee
xoxoxoxoxoxo

Sandee said...

I love ghost towns too. They are always filled with wonderful stories of the past. I would have loved to been there with you to tour this gem.

Have a terrific time honey. Big hug. :)

Anonymous said...

LOL @ bootlegger's cabin next to the church. Just sayin'....

Linda said...

I've got to agree with Lois, that one made me laugh!

This is exactly the type of place that I would love to go and explore and take pictures of! One can just feel the history of the place!

Zane D. Clark said...

Darlin likes Ghost towns. We have toured a few around our next of hick's ville.

She expecially likes Bodie if I can get her there before it closes for the day.
z

LAC said...

OMG. I would love to photograph those old buildings. So cool! Adding it to my bucket list, hahaha.