Montana's ghost towns: Marysville

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Chad Thompson
  • 341st Missile Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  (Editor's Note: This is the second in a series of stories highlighting some of the forgotten gems of Montana. From booming mining towns to bustling trade routes, we will try and explore them all in hopes of rekindling some of these ghost towns' grandeur. Get out and explore Montana while you're stationed here, you won't regret it.)

Marysville, Montana, is located about 25 miles west of Helena, just off Montana State Road 279.

This once booming gold mining town was built and established around the Drumlummon Mine in 1876, by founder Thomas Cruse.

In the 1880s and 1890s it was Montana's leading gold producer with a population of about 4,000. By 1900, Marysville mining district was reported to be one of the richest gold mining areas with a production of about $50 million.

At its peak, the town supported close to 60 business establishments, had service from two railroads and had two newspapers.

Today, this quaint town has several historic buildings located at its entrance. There are also two churches further into town that were built in 1886.

The Methodist-Episcopal Church of Marysville is one building on the National Register of Historic Places.

According to the Department of the Interior and Montana Historical Society, the church was abandoned in 1939 and near collapse until it was bought and restored in 1967.

Marysville is a true gem of Montana and for anyone who is interested in Montana's rich history of mining, it's a quick stop and a beautiful drive to take a stroll back in time.