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Sunbeam Mine: Echoes of Idaho’s Gold Rush
I don’t know about you, but anytime we’re on a long road trip we take any and every opportunity to get out and stretch our legs. We love to explore new places and learn new things. If there’s a historic marker along the roadside, you can bet we’re going to stop and take a look! That’s exactly how we found Sunbeam Mine historic site! After taking a dip in Sunbeam Hot Springs, we were on our way to Challis, Idaho to our hotel for the evening. We didn’t make it even 5 miles down the road before we came across this awe inspiring historic site. Not only is the site…
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History Beneath Our Feet: A Family Trip to Big Hole Battlefield
Walking Through History: Big Hole National Battlefield Nestled along the North Fork of the Big Hole River in southwestern Montana, Big Hole National Battlefield marks the site of a fierce confrontation between the Nez Perce Tribe and the U.S. Army on August 9–10, 1877. In a surprise dawn attack, soldiers descended upon a sleeping Nez Perce encampment of around 750 people—men, women, and children. Though badly outnumbered, the Nez Perce fought back vigorously, forcing the troops to retreat and entrench—and even momentarily capturing a U.S. howitzer. The battle ended the following day with both sides suffering heavy losses: between 60 and 90 Nez Perce and roughly 31 soldiers killed . Today, the battlefield’s 3…
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Step Back in History: Discovering Bannack Ghost Town
After spending the last few trips in Washington state, we decided that we should do a little exploring in Montana. On our quest for a real “Wild West” experience we stumbled upon Bannack Ghost Town in Bannack, Montana. And boy did we hit “the gold mine!” The History of Bannack: Tucked away in the hills of southwestern Montana, Bannack Ghost Town is one of the best-preserved glimpses into the Wild West you can find. Founded in 1862 during Montana’s first gold rush, Bannack quickly grew into a bustling town full of hope, grit, and gold fever. At its peak, it had a hotel, a school, saloons, a jail—and even served…
