The mining town of Garnet was established in Montana’s Garnet Mountains in 1895. In 1898, Garnet had a population of about 1,000 and by 1905, only 150 remained. In 1934, gold prices were raised and, together with new technology, another gold boom began. By 1936, the population had increased to 250. With World War II, the boom disappeared and in 1942 the post office closed. By 1948, the general store had closed, and souvenir hunters were looting the town. Today it is a ghost town managed in a state of arrested decay by the Bureau of Land Management and the Garnet Preservation Association. The J.K. Wells Hotel was built in 1897 and is the most impressive building in Garnet. Guests stayed in rooms on the second and thirds floors.
Second Floor Rooms
The wall paper paper is shown above.
This door at the back of the building led to a short flight of stairs to the outdoor privy.
Third Floor
According to the information sign:
“Poor miners walked up the stairs past private, wallpapered rooms and soft beds to the top floor. There, they stretched out their bedrolls. The 1 x 2s that are still nailed to the floor are all that remain of the simple plank walls that sectioned off each man’s rented space. The floor was heated only by the warm air that filtered up from the floors below.”
More Garnet Ghost Town
Public Lands: The Garnet Ghost Town (Photo Diary)
Garnet Ghost Town: Barn, Blacksmith's Shop, and Jail (Photo Diary)
Garnet Ghost Town: Two Log Cabins (Photo Diary)
Garnet Ghost Town: Kelly's Saloon (Photo Diary)
Garnet Ghost Town: Davey's Store (Photo Diary)
Garnet Ghost Town: Artifacts (Photo Diary)