Our days are filled with technology – from the phone alarms that wake us up in the morning to the watch we use to track calories – but sometimes, it’s refreshing to simply unplug, take a step back from electronics, and remember that technology wasn’t always so pervasive.
Wait… we just tried to remember and realized it’s a lot harder than we thought! Like us, you may need a little inspiration to set the tone for a world (or day) without technology. Here are five historic towns in Montana that will make you feel as if you went back in time… to a time when someone couldn’t even fathom the utility of a Fitbit.
- Virginia City
photosym/TripAdvisor Once known as a highly coveted destination to mine for gold, this region was estimated to have a value of $100 million throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. At one point in time, Virginia City became the largest settlement in Montana (with a population of around 5,000) and served as the territory’s first social center and transportation hub. Today, the town retains the same aura and architecture, but not quite the population. The 2020 census shows the population at a mere 219.
- Miles City
Miles City Bucking Horse Sale Website When you think of cowboys, what do you think of? Horses and saloons were likely among the first ideas that popped into your head. Miles City was once a very popular destination for cowboys, as it was the largest horse market in the world at one point. It still preserves the cowboy heritage to this day. Each year, the Miles City honors the cowboy tradition by hosting the Bucking Horse Sale, also known as “cowboy mardi gras.” The event includes horse sales, horse racing, parades, and concerts.
- Bannack
Mark Holloway from Anaconda, Montana, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons Bannack was founded in 1862 and yielded its name from the local Bannock Indians. It was a major destination for gold mining in 1862, but experienced a dwindling population over the subsequent decades. Today, the town is listed as a National Historic Landmark as Bannack State Park.
aflechner/TripAdvisor Though it may no longer be a functioning town, there are still roughly 60 standing structures in Bannack that can be visited and explored.
- Stevensville
Historic St. Mary’s Mission and Museum/Facebook Stevensville is recognized as being Montana’s first permanent settlement of non-indigenous people. It was settled by Jesuit Missionaries, at the request of the native Indian tribe of the Bitterroot Valley. As the population and infrastructure of Stevensville grew, it led Montana in many areas: irrigation, agriculture, ranching, and cattle branding.
- Fort Benton
Grand Union Hotel Website Considered the “Birthplace of Montana,” Fort Benton is the oldest continuously-occupied settlement in the state. Located right on the Missouri River, the town once served as a major economic center, attracting steamboats carrying the likes of fur, merchants, gold miners, and goods.
There are far more reasons to visit Montana than we can list here. From the mountain ranges and a taste of the last frontier to its waterways and wildlife. But its many long-standing towns rich in history are certainly among the top reasons to visit the “Big Sky Country.”
photosym/TripAdvisor
Once known as a highly coveted destination to mine for gold, this region was estimated to have a value of $100 million throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. At one point in time, Virginia City became the largest settlement in Montana (with a population of around 5,000) and served as the territory’s first social center and transportation hub. Today, the town retains the same aura and architecture, but not quite the population. The 2020 census shows the population at a mere 219.
Miles City Bucking Horse Sale Website
When you think of cowboys, what do you think of? Horses and saloons were likely among the first ideas that popped into your head. Miles City was once a very popular destination for cowboys, as it was the largest horse market in the world at one point. It still preserves the cowboy heritage to this day. Each year, the Miles City honors the cowboy tradition by hosting the Bucking Horse Sale, also known as “cowboy mardi gras.” The event includes horse sales, horse racing, parades, and concerts.
Mark Holloway from Anaconda, Montana, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Bannack was founded in 1862 and yielded its name from the local Bannock Indians. It was a major destination for gold mining in 1862, but experienced a dwindling population over the subsequent decades. Today, the town is listed as a National Historic Landmark as Bannack State Park.
aflechner/TripAdvisor
Though it may no longer be a functioning town, there are still roughly 60 standing structures in Bannack that can be visited and explored.
Historic St. Mary’s Mission and Museum/Facebook
Stevensville is recognized as being Montana’s first permanent settlement of non-indigenous people. It was settled by Jesuit Missionaries, at the request of the native Indian tribe of the Bitterroot Valley. As the population and infrastructure of Stevensville grew, it led Montana in many areas: irrigation, agriculture, ranching, and cattle branding.
Grand Union Hotel Website
Considered the “Birthplace of Montana,” Fort Benton is the oldest continuously-occupied settlement in the state. Located right on the Missouri River, the town once served as a major economic center, attracting steamboats carrying the likes of fur, merchants, gold miners, and goods.
Have you visited any of these towns? Which town felt the most dated?
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Address: Virginia City, MT 59729, USAAddress: Miles City, MT 59301, USAAddress: Bannack, MT 59725, USAAddress: Stevensville, MT 59870, USAAddress: Fort Benton, MT 59442, USA
