Garnet, Montana: The Town Of 50 Mines
John Manard/Wikimedia CommonsGarnet’s remaining buildings. Much of the town burned down in 1912.
Garnet is a ghost town that sits near the head of First Chance Gulch. But it took multiple “chances” for miners to strike gold there in the 19th century.
Miners started to investigate the land near Garnet in the 1860s, and 50 mines soon popped up. However, although gold was found in 1865, it wasn’t until a bigger vein was discovered in the 1890s that Garnet became a boomtown.
Then, the population of Garnet swelled to about 1,000 people. According to Visit Montana, the town soon had all the trappings of a successful mining town, including three hotels, seven saloons, stores, and a school.
John Manard/Wikimedia CommonsThe interior of F.A. Davey’s Store in Garnet.
But like other ghost towns on this list, Garnet’s good times didn’t last. In fact, they were particularly short-lived. After the booming 1890s, the town’s fortunes started to decline.
Though the town’s richest mine continued to operate up until the 1950s, Garnet’s mines were declared dead in the 1960s. Its time as a mining town had officially ended — and its life as a ghost town had begun.
Today, Garnet is a popular destination for those who want a glimpse of 19th-century mining life. Nearly half the town burned down in 1912, but major efforts have been made to restore what remains. Visitors can see sights like the J.R. Wells Hotel, Dahl’s Saloon, and F.A. Davey’s Store.
