P a g e 7 G h o s t T o w n s a n d H i s t o r y o f M o n t a n a N e w s l e t t e r Pony Pony is located on the eastern side of the Tobacco Root Mountains in Madison County. The town was established in the 1860s as a gold mining camp and was named after the nickname of its pioneer miner Tecumseh Smith. Mining was the main economic activity in the town until the early 1920s when the last mine closed down. Today the town is a historic site with most of the early structures having been restored. Virginia City Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz Gold was discovered along the Alder Gulch in 1863 giving rise to a number of prosperous mining camps among them Virginia City. Virginia City grew rapidly becoming the territorial headquarters for Montana in 1865. With the rise of Helena and the decline in the gold ore around the Virginia City, many residents moved to Helena and eventually the capital was also moved in 1875. Mining around Virginia City continued until the 1930s. Today Virginia City is a historic site with some of its original structures preserved. –Courtesy of our friend Matt Grover at RareGoldNuggets.Com Matt Grover shares his vast knowledge of ghost towns, metal detecting, gold prospecting, rockhounding, maps, treasures and much more at RareGoldNuggets.Com Be sure to check out his website! Bring Montana’s History Back to Life with Ghost Town License Plates! Every Ghost Town license plate on the road helps breathe new life into Montana’s historic treasures! Thanks to your support, Friends of 1356 will continue to restore the Northern Pacific Engine #1356, proudly displayed near the X’s at the north end of Higgins Avenue in downtown Missoula. In recent years, Ghost Town Plate grants have also helped the Bonner Historical Museum install new interpretive signage sharing the story of the area’s railroad heritage, funded the repainting of the historic Stark School, and supported window replacements at the Alberton Community Center. These projects are made possible through the Garnet Preservation Association, which manages the grant program and typically awards up to $5,000 per project when funding allows. The Ghost Town Plate is Granite County’s only specialty plate, and proceeds go directly to preserving Montana’s unique past. To qualify for funding, restoration projects must be located in Montana, open to the public, and ideally carried out in partnership with nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations. You can help protect and restore Montana’s historic buildings and landmarks simply by choosing a Ghost Town License Plate for your vehicle. Visit your local licensing office today and drive with pride for Montana’s past — and its future!
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