Bannack

Montana, United States

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Last updated

July 16, 2026

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Bannack, Montana, was established in the early 1860s following the discovery of gold in nearby Alder Gulch. It served as the first territorial capital of Montana from 1864 until 1875. The town is a historical site, with many buildings reconstructed to reflect the gold rush era. While the mines are no longer productive, Bannack is preserved as a reminder of Montana's early history and the prospectors who sought their fortune there.12

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Dillon
) Nearby Bannack, now a ghost town and site of Montana’s first major gold strike (1862), was once a bustling community of 8,000 and the first territorial capital. Dillon’s economy now depends on ranching and farming (livestock, hay, and seed potatoes), mining, and tourism. Dude ranches dot…
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) Nearby Bannack, now a ghost town and site of Montana’s first major gold strike (1862), was once a bustling community of 8,000 and the first territorial capital. Dillon’s economy now depends on ranching and farming (livestock, hay, and seed potatoes), mining, and tourism. Dude ranches dot…
Read More