Ghost Towns of Western Montana
Spirit of Structure Workshop: Ghost Towns of Western Montana
Maine Media Workshops
September 8 to 14, 2019
Dillon and Missoula, MT
What is the “Spirit of Structure Workshop”? I use the term Spirit of Structure to describe how I approach photographing the places we humans build. I am trying to capture stories about the built environment. During this workshop, we will visit at least one location a day. These are primarily preserved or maintained Ghost Towns. Our two primary locations are Bannack and Garnet. We will stay in Dillon, MT when we are working around Bannack and in Missoula, MT when we are working around Garnet. We will return to the classroom and share images each day, looking at each picture to see if we can discover the story the photographer is telling about his or her vision for the location. There will not be assignments per se, but I will talk about how I approach each location. I look for the iconic image. I want an image that is both specific and universal. In other words, a picture that defines a location specifically but becomes universal.
Bannack State Park
Imagine walking the street of a high plains town in the late 19th century. You expect Miss Kitty to be tending bar and Sherriff Matt to be strolling the street. Bannack is just such a place except it is not a stage set. It was a real town, in fact, it was the capital of Montana for a short while. Gold was discovered nearby and lead to the founding and growth of the town. The State of Montana has kept the town in an arrested state of decay. The hotel stands grandly on the street, the Masonic Hall is nearby with the school on the first floor. The saloon has a barber chair in it. Houses line the rest of the street. There are many stories to be found in Bannack. Our workshop starts in Bannack for the first two days.
Nevada City MT.
Nevada City, MT, is a town of collected buildings. A few are original to the location and others have been brought in from all over western Montana. It is a tourist attraction but if we can arrange to visit after it has closed for the season it can be a visually interesting place to photograph. Here we will find a saloon, barber shop, schoolhouse, general store, and several fine houses. Nevada City is what I call fabricated authentic. That is, it looks and feels real but is contrived. But interesting images can be made here.
Coolidge, MT
Wednesday we will begin our journey north towards Missoula. We will stop along the way in the Pioneer Mountains and take a short hike into Coolidge. Coolidge was a mining town based on silver mines in the area. It was active until silver prices dropped and the mines played out about 1932. It has largely been left alone. It is under the care of the State of Montana but no efforts at restoration are underway.
After photographing Coolidge, depending on the time, we may stop at the Old Montana State Prison Museum in Deer Lodge, MT.
Garnet, MT
We will leave Missoula early Thursday morning for the hour drive into the mountains to arrive at Garnet. Garnet is a very different town from Bannack. It is at an elevation of about 6000 feet at the head of First Chance Creek. It was founded in 1895 and half of it burned down in 1912 and was never rebuilt. Preservation began in 1970 and is supervised by the Garnet Preservation Project. There are numerous buildings to explore and photograph including the hotel, saloon, and several log cabins. We can photograph in Garnet for two days or we can explore the surrounding area which has another small ghost town.
Coloma, MT
Near Garnet is the “town” of Coloma. It is not preserved and there are a few buildings still standing or partially standing. If we have time we may take the opportunity to explore this area as well.
As we travel through western and central Montana we will stop and photograph the landscape if the location and timing are right.
If you would like to experience and photograph Ghost Towns in Western Montana join me for this exciting workshop.