Historic Sites
Southwest Montana is rich with history from early Indians to Lewis and Clark to the Big Hole Battlefield to the mining history that made Butte the “Richest Hill On Earth.” Explore the many historic sites, towns, and districts to see life as it was in the past. Sites are managed by the Forest Service, National Park Service, and Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks.
Bannack State Historic Park
Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks
South of Butte and Dillon you will find Bannack State Park, where gold drew men to the Montana Territory in 1863. Many of the original buildings are preserved for a glimpse into the past.
Big Hole Battlefield
Big Hole Battlefield
A memorial to the people who fought and died here on August 9 and 10, 1877; combatants in a five-month conflict called the Nez Perce War. At the interpretive center you can learn about the battle and the war, and walk to where the cavalry fired on Chief Joseph’s band. The Big Hole Battlefield is part of the Nez Perce National Historical Park.
Grant-Kohrs Ranch
Grant-Kohrs Ranch
Established by Canadian fur trader John Grant, and expanded by cattle baron Conrad Kohrs, Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site commemorates the Western cattle industry from its 1850s inception through recent times. The park covers 1,500 acres and 90 structures. The site is maintained today as a working ranch.
Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest
Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF
There are several historic sites in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest where you can visit historic sites and mining towns
Elkhorn Mine was discovered on October 24, 1873, by Mike Steel and F.W. Panish. Bill Roe was said to have given the mine it’s name as a result of having found a pair of elkhorns in the area. The mine is located along the Pioneer Mountains National Scenic Byway.
Coolidge - Founded in 1911 and named after President Calvin Coolidge, had both telephone service and electricity provided by a power line carrying 65,000 volts running from Divide over the hill to Coolidge. A short one-half mile easy hike is required to reach this historic townsite. Coolidge is located along the Pioneer Mountains National Scenic Byway about 40 miles south of Butte.
Elkhorn – Located in the Elkhorn Mountain Range are remnants of this ghost town that includes Fraternity Hall. Elkhorn is about 65 miles northeast of Butte off Montana Highway 69.
Canyon Creek Charcoal Kilns – Restored beehive shaped brick ovens produced charcoal for a nearby smelter. The kilns are west of Melrose, about 30 miles south of Butte, off Interstate 15.
