OCTOBER 2024 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From The Helena Independent, Oct. 9, 1890 Basin, Montana– Early Days in this Rich Gold Camp Accessed via: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ Gold was first discovered at nearby Helena at a place called Last Chance Gulch. This proved to be one of Montana’s richest gold discoveries, and it didn’t take long for thousands of hopeful miners to flood Western Montana in search of yellow metal. The gold placers near Helena were rich, and expanded to the mountains around the town. Eventually, rich placers were also found in Basin Creek and the Boulder River. The first gold was reportedly found on Cataract Creek just south of present day Basin. More miners flooded into the area, and the town of Basin, Montana was established. It started as a simple camp, but eventually grew to a booming gold town. Basin, The Boomtown Placers were rich all throughout the area, but as with all mining areas, the gold in the creeks eventually plays out and becomes unprofitable to work. By the 1870s, lode deposits were found in the area of Basin Creek and so Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz
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