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Daylight Creek |
A R E A I N F O R M A T I O N Location and Access Recreation Area History Weather |
The historical significance of the area cannot be understated. It has a rich and well documented history beginning with the establishment of Virginia City as the first territorial capital. Area residents included miners, stockmen, gunfighters, road agents, vigilantes, and many others. Upon the discovery of gold in 1863, the area was soon occupied by over 30,000 residents, with the town of Virginia City itself boasting a population of nearly 18,000 by 1864. By contrast, the population of the area today is around 2,000 permanent residents. Virginia City still serves as the county seat of Madison County. |
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Overlooking historic Virginia City from Boot Hill - designated by President Lincoln as the Montana Territory's Capital in early 1865  |
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| The historic character of the area is preserved in the restored mining towns of Nevada City and Virginia City. These towns, which adjoin the general boundaries of the ranch, still contain many original buildings and homes. Virginia City itself occupies approximately 320 acres which essentially lies in an inholding within the ranch along US Highway No. 238. There is a substantial amount of renovation and activity occurring in relationship to the town as the state begins development of a park in the area. Nevada City and much of the older areas of Virginia City were purchased by the State of Montana in 1996 for purposes of historical preservation. These towns are popular summer attractions, and feature playhouses, restaurants, and various businesses operated on a seasonal basis. In addition to these towns, numerous other small towns popped up to the west in the Ruby River Valley. These include Alder and Laurin, located near the boundaries of the ranch. Prominent reminders of past mining activities are large gravel dredge piles located along the highway between Alder and Nevada City. Dredges, large mechanized gold mining excavators, were floated and operated along the Alder Creek area from 1897 to 1922. The world's largest electric dredge, once located one mile from the ranch, was built in the town of Ruby in 1910. |
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This remarkable old town portraying Montana's early mining history was recently purchased by the State for historical restoration and preservation purposes.  |
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| After the gold rush of the 1860s, residents began to accumulate land holdings for livestock production, and through the years southwestern Montana developed into an area of large livestock ranches. Livestock operations in the area still predominate, with many longtime owner-operators in business today. Also apparent in the area are prominent investors and nonresident landowners who have purchased ranches over the past 10 to 20 years. Hunting, fishing, scenery, wide open spaces and an unspoiled area with an easygoing ranching lifestyle have provided much of the attraction. In addition to the historic attributes of these small towns, mining history and memorabilia survive in the area as well as noteworthy structures such as the stone church located in Laruin near the Cal Creek Ranch Properties headquarters. |
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For more information on these properties, please contact: Hart Baitis at (406) 251-3446 or (406) 842-7589 |