During the 1860s, gold lured thousands of miners to Montana’s Garnet Mountains. In 1895, the town of Garnet was established. By the late 1940s, Garnet was basically a ghost town. Today the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and the Garnet Preservation Association maintain Garnet in a state of arrested decay.
One of the things that made Garnet different from many mining towns of this era was that had many families. According to one of the information signs:
“The town attracted more families than did Montana’s earlier mining camps. Dances, hay rides, quilting bees, and picnics provided family oriented social activities. Garnet supports numerous saloons, but its family emphasis tempered usual mining camp vices.”
Shown below are some of the family houses in Garnet.
The Adams House
Built between 1896 and 1900, the Adams house was among the nicer homes in Garnet. The Adams family lived in the house from 1904 to 1927.
Honeymoon Cabin
This cabin was originally built between 1896 and 1900. In 1917, Frank Davey began letting newlyweds live in it rent free. The couple could remain in the cabin until displaced by another newly married couple that needed a place to stay.
Hanifen House
Built in the early 1900s, this 1 ½ story house is unique in Garnet because it was not a log cabin. It was built with vertical boards.
Public Lands
The Garnet Ghost Town is on lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management. While there are some people who dislike the idea of public lands, these lands provide enjoyment for many people. More photo tours from this series:
Public Lands: Cape Arago State Park (Photo Diary)
Public Lands: The Sierra Mine Loop Trail (Photo Diary)
Garnet Ghost Town: Davey's Store (Photo Diary)
Garnet Ghost Town: Kelly's Saloon (Photo Diary)
Garnet Ghost Town: Hotel Rooms (Photo Diary)