Audio recording of Terrence McGlynn, Leo Maney, and Bill Black, circa 1975

Abstract

Professor Terrence McGlynn narrates this episode about the Montana ghost towns of Virginia City and Bannack, explaining that these towns were in the state’s richest mining district known as Alder Gulch. Leo Maney discusses Virginia City and the outlaw group called The Innocents, headed by Henry Plummer. He also explains a long-standing disagreement about which town was the first territorial capital. Talking about Bannack, they recall that the town was home to the first electric dredge. Discussing Virginia City, they describe that approximately 100 million dollars worth of gold has been extracted from the area. They talk about the Montana Post, the first newspaper in Montana, and explain that Virginia City is more of a museum than a ghost town. Student Bill Black also discusses the Bearmouth-Garnet area which has very few remains.https://scholarworks.umt.edu/mtghosttowns_audiorecordings/1002/thumbnail.jp