Garnet, Montana Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Garnet Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places

Garnet's surviving commercial buildings
Location in Montana Show map of Montana Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	11 mi north of junction of Old US 10 and Bear Gulch Rd, Bureau of Land Management, Garnet Resource Area, Garnet, Montana
Area	134 acres (54 ha)
Built	1895
Built by	Ole Dahl
Architectural style	Late 19th and Early 20th Century American Movements
NRHP reference No.	10000547
Added to NRHP	August 12, 2010

Garnet is a fascinating ghost town located in Granite County, Montana, United States. It was once a busy mining town in the 1890s. However, when the local hard rock mines closed, most people left, and Garnet's population got much smaller.

Today, the buildings that are still standing have been carefully saved. Visitors can explore them and learn about what life was like back then. The Bureau of Land Management takes care of the site. Garnet is about 11 miles (18 km) north of where Interstate 90, U.S. Route 12, and Bear Gulch Road meet.

History of Garnet: A Mining Town's Story
- How Garnet Grew and Changed
- Garnet's Boom and Decline
Preserving Garnet: A Glimpse into the Past
- Garnet's National Recognition
Geography: Where Garnet is Located
Gallery
See also

History of Garnet: A Mining Town's Story

Miners first started looking for gold in the Garnet Mountains in the 1860s. In 1895, a special machine called a stamp mill was built at First Chance Gulch. This machine helped crush rocks to get gold out.

How Garnet Grew and Changed

After the stamp mill was built, a small town quickly grew up nearby. It was first called Mitchell, but in 1897, its name changed to Garnet. At its busiest time, Garnet had many businesses. There were about thirteen saloons, which were like bars, along with grocery stores and a barber shop. The town also had a general store and three hotels. These hotels offered rooms for people traveling through or those coming to find gold. Rooms usually cost between $1 and $3. Miners who couldn't afford a room could sleep in the attic for just a quarter.

Some of the important buildings were built by people like Ole Dahl, who created the Dahl Saloon and the Dahl House. Robert Moore built Kelly's Saloon, and Hugh Hannifen built Hannifen House. The F.A. Davey Store was built by Judson and Blaidsell. John and Winifred Wells built the Wells Hotel. Most of the supplies needed in Garnet came from a nearby place called Bearmouth.

Garnet's Boom and Decline

In 1898, about one thousand people lived in Garnet. But this busy period did not last long. By 1900, only three hundred people still lived there. The number of people living in Garnet went up and down depending on how well the local mines were doing. In 1912, a big fire destroyed many parts of the town.

Several of Garnet's remaining miner's cabins

Preserving Garnet: A Glimpse into the Past

Even after the fire, Garnet is one of Montana's best-preserved ghost towns. About 16,000 people visit it every year. There is a special event called Garnet Day held on the third Saturday of each year. Mary Jane Adams Morin, who was Garnet's oldest living member, used to visit every year.

Wells Hotel, Garnet Ghost Town, Montana

Garnet's National Recognition

In 2010, the town was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It was named the Garnet Historic District. This means it is a special place that is important to history. The listing included 82 buildings that help tell the town's story. It also included 46 structures and 56 sites, along with a few newer buildings. The historic area covers about 134 acres (54 ha). Most of the buildings are at the north end of First Chance Gulch. However, the listing also includes mining structures in a larger area around the town.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management owns this area. They manage it as part of their Garnet Resource Area.

Geography: Where Garnet is Located

Garnet is found in First Chance Gulch in western Montana. The town is about 11 miles up the Garnet Range Road. It is surrounded by mountains and forests. The town sits at an elevation of about 6,000 feet (1,800 m). The closest big city to the west is Missoula, which is about 20 miles (32 km) away. To the east, the closest city is Butte, about 100 miles (160 km) from Garnet.