Hanging gallows.

Sheriff Hanged on His Own Gallows

The Gold Rush ghost town of Bannack displays the gallows of Hangin' Sheriff Henry Plummer. He was on the job less than seven months before he swung from the gallows himself, the victim of vigilantes (They said he was actually part of an outlaw gang with Club Foot George). His corpse was supposedly buried nearby, but it's never been found, so keep your eyes peeled for bones poking out of the ground. The town site, finally abandoned in the 1930s, includes a Boot Hill, saloon, over 50 buildings.

The town is open year-round as a park and tourist attraction, but off-season visitors should dress warmly. In February 1989 it was 62 degrees below zero in Bannack.

Sheriff Hanged on His Own Gallows

Bannack State Park

Address:: 4200 Bannack Rd, Dillon, MT
Directions:: Bannack State Park. W of Dillon off State Hwy. 278. I-15 south exit 59. West on Hwy 278 for 17 miles. Left on the Bannack Bench Road, south for 4 miles. Park entrance on the left.
Hours:: May-Oct. 8 am - dusk; off-season 8 am - 5 pm. (Call to verify)
Phone:: 406-834-3413
Admission:: Out of state car fee.
RA Rates:: Worth a Detour

Nearby Offbeat Places

Old Pitt, Elephant Killed by Lightning, Dillon, MT - 17 mi.
Owl Club's Arrow Riddled Owl, Salmon, ID - 44 mi.
The Big Stack, Anaconda, MT - 67 mi.
Piccadilly Museum - Relics of Transportation and Evel Knievel, Butte, MT - 63 mi.

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April 10, 2013