Marker Logo HMdb.org THE HISTORICAL
MARKER DATABASE
“Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History”
“Bite-Size Bits of Local, National, and Global History”
Neihart in Cascade County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
 

Neihart Mining District's Heyday

 
 
Neihart Mining District's Heyday Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 10, 2015
1. Neihart Mining District's Heyday Marker
Inscription. Rich veins of silver were mined in the Historic Neihart Mining District for a fifty-year period beginning in July 1881. Remnants of the first claim, the Queen of the Hills mine, are located just a few hundred yards north of where you are standing. During the peak of silver mining here (late 1800s and early 1900s), the Silver Dyke Mine was one of the world’s largest producers of silver ore.

J. L. Neihart helped discover the district and soon founded the town bearing his name. In 1891, the Belt Mountain branch of the Great Northern Railroad was constructed, connecting Neihart to the Anaconda Company smelter at Great Falls. The line remained in operation until 1945.

Neihart had a fire department, electric company, water company, school, several churches, a mining union, three hotels, fraternal lodges, the Belt Mountain Hospital and two newspapers. At one time, Neihart had fourteen saloons in one block, all of them located on the same side of the street. Respectable stores were located on the opposite side, and ladies never crossed over.

other picture captions:
• Neihart Circa 1900.
• The Barker Mining Company, Neihart, Circa 1900.
• Neihart celebrated Miners Day Parade July 13, 1892. Miners received wages of $3.50 per day for a total annual payroll of $250,000.
• Office of the Silver
Paid Advertisement
Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.
Click or scan to see
this page online
Horn Mining Company, Neihart, Circa 1892.
 
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & CommerceSettlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1881.
 
Location. 46° 55.99′ N, 110° 44.139′ W. Marker is in Neihart, Montana, in Cascade County. Marker is at the intersection of Main Street (U.S. 89) and East Granite Street, on the right when traveling south on Main Street. Marker is located in a small historical interpretive kiosk at the southwest corner of the intersection. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Neihart MT 59465, United States of America. Touch for directions.
 
Other nearby markers. At least 2 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. The Mining Legacy (here, next to this marker); The Ace in the Hole (approx. 11.1 miles away).
 
More about this marker. Marker is a large, framed interpretive panel, mounted at eye-level in a wooden kiosk.
 
Also see . . .  Neihart, Montana. In July 1881, three prospectors - James LeRoy Neihart, John O'Brien, and Richard Harley - discovered silver near the present-day town of Neihart and established the Queen of the Mountains Mine. In 1882, the town was large enough for the United States Post Office Department to establish a post office there. A road to White Sulphur Springs was constructed shortly thereafter, although ore was packed
Marker detail: The Florence Mine image. Click for full size.
2. Marker detail: The Florence Mine
The Florence mine, about a quarter mile north of Neihart, was one of the better silver mines. Between 1901 and 1943, it produced more than two million ounces of silver.
out by mule to Barker and smelted there. By 1887 most of the richest and easy-to-reach veins of ore had been exhausted. By 1890, Neihart was almost deserted. In 1891, a spur of the Montana Central Railway reached Neihart, and a strong mining boom began. Neihart went through a series of booms and busts over the next half-century. Portions of Neihart have been abandoned, and ghost town ruins can be seen in the city's outer limits. (Submitted on January 7, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.) 
 
Marker detail: The Neihart Schoolhouse, 1901 image. Click for full size.
3. Marker detail: The Neihart Schoolhouse, 1901
The old Neihart school contained four large rooms, two up and two down with grades one through four in one room and five through eight in another. The four high school years met in the third room, and the fourth was used for physical education.
Marker detail: Neihart School Group image. Click for full size.
4. Marker detail: Neihart School Group
Neihart Mining District's Heyday Marker (<i>wide view; Main Street in background</i>) image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 10, 2015
5. Neihart Mining District's Heyday Marker (wide view; Main Street in background)
Neihart Mining District Interpretive Kiosk (<i>marker located on right/east side of kiosk</i>) image. Click for full size.
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 10, 2015
6. Neihart Mining District Interpretive Kiosk (marker located on right/east side of kiosk)
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on January 8, 2019. It was originally submitted on January 6, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 275 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos:   1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on January 7, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.

Share this page.  
Share on Tumblr
m=128300

CeraNet Cloud Computing sponsors the Historical Marker Database.
This website earns income from purchases you make after using our links to Amazon.com. We appreciate your support.
Paid Advertisements
Mar. 28, 2024