How the Bannack Ghost Town Became a Montana State Park @NationalParkDiaries

Uploaded September 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago

Bannack State Park is a LITERAL ghost town. Not a reproduction of a ghost town. Or a tourist attraction resembling a ghost town. But a literal ghost town. It's been abandoned since the 1940s, but rather than let if fall into disrepair, a group of concerned citizens and preservationists instead sought to preserve it. Which is how... we ended up with the Bannack State Park Ghost Town. This is its story.

Support me on Patreon: patreon.com/nationalparkdiaries
Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/nationalparkdiaries

Sources and Resources:
Bannack State Park Informational Booklet
fwp.mt.gov/stateparks/bannack-state-park
visitmt.com/listings/general/state-park/bannack-state-park
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bannack,_Montana

Images and Music:
Storyblocks
Montana State Library
Montana Historical Society
Denver Public Library
John Ebert
NPS

How the Bannack Ghost Town Became a Montana State Park

The WAR That Created Mammoth Cave National Park

Teapot Dome: Americas ORIGINAL Public Lands Scandal

Every National Park in Colorado, Explained

$A Brief History of Fire Towers Fire Towers are icons of America’s conservation history. Dating back as early as the 19th century, fire lookouts have been keeping watch over America’s public lands for generations now. And although new technologies have come and gone, many fire towers are still in use. And they still play a crucial role in fighting wildfires. This video is, in many ways, a love letter to these icons of the American wilderness. I trace the complete history of fire towers, from their 19th century roots to their modern-day mythical status. You’ll get to learn about the Osborne Firefinder, the quintessential fire detection device in use for over a century now as well. You’ll also find an excellent collection of US Forest Service historical photos, showcasing a wide variety of 20th century fire towers, locations, employees, and more. If you’re interested, I’d highly recommend checking out the full album, as only a fraction of them could fit in the video. It truly is a fascinating glimpse into the history of the US Forest Service: https://www.flickr.com/photos/usforestservice/albums/72157669003030369/page1 And if you want to learn more about how we fight wildfires on public lands, check out my video on that here: https://youtu.be/tazp_YrLyNo Enjoy!$

Every National Park in Kentucky, Explained

How Wolves Brought Yellowstone Back to Life

3 Ways National Parks Are Helping Us Find Life on Mars

Why do Congarees Fireflies Synchronize? | Congaree National Park Fireflies

I Visited 18 National Parks Last Year. Heres All of Them