Ramsay in Butte in Silver Bow County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)

Pay Gold

Photographed By Cheryl Genovese, October 21, 2006

1. Pay Gold Marker

Site of the first pay gold in Silver Bow County in the spring of 1864

Inscription. Pay gold was discovered in Silver Bow County near this site in July 1864 by Barker and party
To commemorate the event, this tablet was placed by Silver Bow Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution Butte, Montana

Original marker dedicated August 24, 1931. Restored and Rededicated 2006

(Low plaque text:) Daughters of the American Revolution Silver Bow Chapter would like to acknowledge contributions from the following donors:
Dennis R. Washington-Montana Resources
PPL Montana LLC
Dennis R. and Phyllis Washington
Northwestern Energy

Erected 1931 by Daughters of the American Revolution Silver Bow Chapter.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1864.

Location. 46° 0.355′ N, 112° 38.978′ W. Marker is in Butte, Montana, in Silver Bow County. It is in Ramsay. Marker is on Nissler Road, on the left when traveling west. Near the town of Nissler off the Butte-Anaconda highway near Silver Bow Creek. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Butte MT 59701, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as

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the crow flies. 923 West Mercury (approx. 4.8 miles away); Galbraith Residence (approx. 4.8 miles away); Forestell Flats (approx. 4.8 miles away); Paul Clark Home (approx. 4.8 miles away); William Symons Residence (approx. 4.8 miles away); John Gillie Home (approx. 4.8 miles away); Hodgens/Ryan Home (approx. 4.8 miles away); 100 South Excelsior (approx. 4.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Butte.

Regarding Pay Gold. While Montana had earlier built a reputation as a site of significant gold deposits, the first discovery of “pay gold” (dirt containing enough gold ore to be worth extracting) in Silver Bow County was in 1864 by two prospectors (one named Butterworth Barker; the other’s name is lost to history). The miners named the site the Missoula Lode. Other prospectors came, and by 1867 the population of the mining settlement reached 500 people. Water was scarce, however, and the town began to decline. By the 1870 census, only about 200 people remained. In that period, gold miners along Silver Bow Creek and its tributaries found an estimated $1.5 million of gold by 1867.

Pay Gold Marker - wide view image. Click for full size.

Photo courtesy of Google, Inc.

2. Pay Gold Marker - wide view

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 22, 2020, by Cheryl Genovese of Bozeman, Montana. This page has been viewed 185 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on February 22, 2020, by Cheryl Genovese of Bozeman, Montana. 2. submitted on February 22, 2020. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.