Posted in Montana April 17, 2018 by

The Remnants Of This Abandoned Town In Montana Are Hauntingly Beautiful

Imagine living in Montana in 1895, when the land was wild and untamed and the mining boom was just beginning. Perhaps you would have been one of the first inhabitants of Garnet, the once-thriving community located about 30 miles east of Missoula. Although it was abandoned long ago, it remains one of our best-preserved ghost towns, and it’s still beautiful.

Believe it or not, Garnet was never built to last.
mksfca / Flickr
Local miners were much more interested in extracting the riches below the ground that building a town above it.
Despite the intentions of the original builders, Garnet remains one of the most well-preserved abandoned towns in Montana.
Wayne Stadler / Flickr
The buildings may not have been meant to last, but they certainly did.
Garnet was named for the ruby-colored stones that were often found in the area. Of course, the surrounding mountains were also rich in gold-bearing quartz.
David J Laporte / Flickr
The Garnet Mountains attracted miners who collected gold first by panning, then by using rockers and sluice boxes.
By the late 1940s, Garnet was completely abandoned. But Montanans have carefully preserved as many buildings as possible, giving us a glimpse into our local history.
David J Laporte / Flickr
Travel + Leisure even named Garnet one of America's coolest ghost towns.
Garnet is available to tour, and lots of hiking trails and camping spots are available nearby.
Meredith Rendall Photography / Flickr
The Garnet Preservation Association, a local nonprofit, helps keep things running.
We're lucky to have such a beautiful place to explore to learn more about our past.
Bureau of Land Management / Flickr

 

If you enjoy checking out old abandoned spots in the Treasure State, check out these places that nature is reclaiming.