Bannack State Park

Another place we visited when my parents and Hanna came to visit was Bannack state park. Bannack is a large ghost town that was the site of a huge gold strike in the 1860's. Bannack was so big and bustling that for a while, it was the territorial capitol of Montana and the Beaverhead county seat. Now, it's just a great ghost town. We saw it Monday before my family had to head back to Utah.

Welcome to Bannack State Park! Dave and I came here when we lived in the Big Hole and had a great time, so we knew it would be something the whole fam would love to see.
Jed by the stove in the Hotel Meade

Staircase in the Hotel Meade

The outside of the Hotel Meade

The bar in Skinner's Saloon. I love the beautiful carving on the bar. I wonder how many drunks stopped to appreciate it when the bar was in opperation?

The fam behind the bar. Jed's socks were a little slippery!

The gallows. Bannack was the site of a lot of vigilante action. The sheriff and two of his deputies were hung from these gallows when the vigilantes took over the town in January of 1864.

These two pictures are the view of Bannack from the cemetary hill. So beautiful!

There were several really cool headstones in the small cemetery above town. The town stopped using the cemetery in the 1890's and began using one farther away from town. This headstone, while not the most ornate in the cemetery, was definitely the coolest because it was hand-chisled.

The town had to have a school, and the Masons graciously lent the bottom floor of their Temple for the cause.

Interior of the school house. There were rules on the chalkboard for teachers and students. My favorite rules for the teachers were: Male teachers may have one night a week for courting purposes; two if he attends church regularly. Female teachers found to be living "unrighteously" or who marry will be dismissed. Hmmmm.

Dave and Jed enjoying the merry-go-round outside the schoolhouse.

Jed in jail. He seems to be having a merry time!

The jails have a direct view of the gallows up the hill. It seems that the jail wasn't used too much--people prefered their justice quick in Bannack, and violators of the peace were usually hung swiftly so the sheriff and his deputies could get back to working their gold claims.

Life in Bannack must not have been all gun fights and gold panning. Some beauty still lingers.

Some of the houses had the most beautiful wallpaper. These two are the best examples.

The only church in Bannack was the Methodist church.

The benches in the church were the coolest thing inside. I love the little details on the armrests and supports.

We had a great time. It rained on us for a while, then the sun would come out and shine and be beautiful. We loved having my family come and visit and play with Jed. It was so great to see them!

All tuckered out!