Elkhorn Ghost Town

Silver was initially discovered in the Elkhorn Mountains by Peter Wys somewhere around 1870. Anton Holter began developing the Elkhorn mine a few years after the death of Wys in 1872. The town of Elkhorn grew up around the mine and eventually reached a peak population around 2,500. The town boasted a school, hotel, church, stores, and of course saloons and brothels. The town began a slow death following a diphtheria epidemic in 1888-1889 and the devaluation of silver in 1893. The Northern Pacific Railroad discontinued service at the turn of the century, and the post office closed in 1924. Today about 10 or so families live in Elkhorn. I visited the ghost town in July of 2024.

A Little About Elkhorn

Might be a Barn?

Elkhorn Schools Information

Edward and Eliza Dawe House

Tom Bells Cabin

Hoffman/Harris House

Another Old House

Two of the best preserved buildings in Elkhorn are Fraternity Hall and Gillian Hall. The state of Montana designated the two buildings as Elkhorn State Park in 1980. Fraternity Hall was constructed in 1893 for social gatherings. Its lower floor is in the Greek Revival architectural style, while the second story is built in the neo-classical style. Gillian Hall stands next to Fraternity Hall. The building was erected somewhere in the 1800s and served as a saloon, dance hall, and store.

Gillian Hall (l) Fraternity Hall (r)

Elkhorn Stores

Shoemaker's Shop

Elkhorn Mine and Mill

The Elkhorn mine was located in 1875 but didn't start significant production until the early 1880s. In 1881 the mine reached a depth of 300 feet, and it became clear that a chloridization mill as needed for efficient ore extraction. Limited mining was carried on until the Elkhorn Mining Company purchased the property in 1883. The company built a 10-stamp chloridizing mill and the mine began full production. The Elkhorn Mine was one of the richest mines in the west, with over $14,000,000 of silver produced before the mine shut down in 1912.

Ore Bin with Shutes

Elkhorn Mine

Elkhorn Mill

Mine Tailings?

Mine Managers House

What's left of mine managers house

Not sure what this is but it looks mine related

Mine Adit?

Elkhorn Cemetery

The Elkhorn cemetery is located on a hillside above the town. It can be reached by following the main road through town, then turning right and following the road to the cemetery. Many of the graves in the cemetery hold the remains of children who perished in the 1888–1889 diphtheria epidemic.

The Elkhorn Cemetery

Grave of Peter Wys
Discoverer of Elkhorn Silver

Mother and Daughter

Smith Family

Bell Family

View of Elkhorn from the cemetery road