Gold Creek (Montana) facts for kids
Gold Creek is a small stream located in southwestern Montana, United States. You can find it near Interstate 90, between the cities of Butte and Missoula. This creek flows through parts of Granite County and Powell County. It eventually empties into the Clark Fork (river) near the town of Goldcreek (46°35′12″N 112°55′43″W / 46.58667°N 112.92861°W). Gold Creek is famous because it's where the first gold was discovered in Montana.
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Gold Creek: Where Montana's Gold Rush Began
The First Glimmer of Gold
In 1852, a trapper named Francois Finlay, also known as Benetsee, made an exciting discovery. He found the very first recorded gold in what is now Montana. He even named the creek "Benetsee Creek" after himself. However, there wasn't enough gold to start a big mining operation. So, for a few years, the gold stayed mostly hidden.
The Stuart Brothers' Big Find
Years later, in 1858, some new prospectors arrived. These were James and Granville Stuart, along with Reese Anderson. They also discovered gold in the creek. At first, they didn't have the right tools to dig for the gold. They had to wait until 1862 to return with proper equipment. When they came back, they started mining. Because of their discovery, the creek was renamed "Gold Creek." The Stuart brothers and their group helped open up Western Montana for new settlers. Their initial gold find at Gold Creek played a big part in this.
A Historic Railway Spot
Gold Creek is also famous for another important event in history. It is near the spot where the last spike of the Northern Pacific Railway was driven. This happened on September 8, 1883. This event marked the completion of a major railway line across the country.
