Near Lewistown in Fergus County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)

The Queen of the Judith Basin

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 18, 2019

1. The Queen of the Judith Basin Marker

Inscription. The old mining camp of Maiden, now a ghost town, is located about 10 miles east of here. She roared into existence in April 1880 when "Slookum Joe" Anderson, Frank McPartland, and Dave Jones discovered placer gold in the heart of the Judith Mountains. Jennie Connely named the camp after her daughter, called "Little Maiden" by the bullwhackers who brought them to the new mining camp.
At its height in 1884, over 1,500 people called Maiden home. The mining camp's narrow main street snaked through the gulch, leaving barely enough room on both sides for businesses and homes. In 1882, the camp boasted of several general merchandise stores, a meat market, hotel, restaurant, a clothing store, and eight saloons. Maiden boomed for five short years and then began a long slow decline that ended when a fire leveled the camp in 1905.
"Skookum Joe" and Dave Jones located the first hard rock mine, the War Eagle, high in the mountains above Maiden in 1881. Others soon followed, including the Spotted Horse, the Maginnis, and the Collar. Miners considered the ore "high grade" and found it in pockets throughout the mountain range. The

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Maiden area mines produced over $5 million in gold and sliver before mining ended their in the early twentieth century.

Erected by Montana Department of Transportation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 47° 11.957′ N, 109° 23.954′ W. Marker is near Lewistown, Montana, in Fergus County. It is at the intersection of U.S. 191 at milepost 10 and Maiden Road, on the left when traveling south on U.S. 191. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lewistown MT 59457, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in andspecifically entral Montana in Russell Country. It is also in the American Mountain West

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: ⚜︎ Kendall and K Bar M ⚜︎

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 18, 2019

2. The Queen of the Judith Basin Marker

(approx. 4.3 miles away); Reed and Bowles Stockade Trading Post (approx. 5.6 miles away); Statue of Liberty (approx. 8.9 miles away); Viet Nam Service Appreciation Memorial (approx. 8.9 miles away); LGM-30A Minuteman I (approx. 8.9 miles away); 108 Hawthorne Avenue (approx. 8.9 miles away); 240 mm Howitzer M1 (approx. 8.9 miles away); Lewistown (approx. 9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lewistown.

Also see . . . Ghost Town Wednesday: Maiden, Montana -- Digging History. There are at least two theories as to how the mining town they founded got its name. One story says that one of the early prospectors was named Maden and put up a sign calling the location “Camp Maden” – and later an “i” was added to make it Maiden. Another theory is that the town was named after a friend’s daughter who was referred to as “Little Maiden.” (Submitted on December 17, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

Maiden, Montana image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Western Mining History

3. Maiden, Montana

Photographed by Western Mining History

4. Maiden, Montana

Credits. This page was last revised on December 17, 2019. It was originally submitted on December 17, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,002 times since then and 96 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 17, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.