Gilman in Lewis and Clark County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)

Augusta and Gilman

Photographed by Doreen Thomson, July 25, 2015

1. Augusta and Gilman Marker

Inscription. Named for the daughter of a local rancher, Augusta was established on Fred Walrath's homestead in 1884. It prospered as a trade center for a vast cattle and sheep ranching area. By the 1890s, Augusta's main street included dwellings, hotels, saloons, mercantiles and Manix & Vaughn's famed general store. Today, many of those buildings and homes still stand, symbols of Augusta's colorful history. In 1912, the Great Northern Railway announced plans to build a branch line westward from Great Falls into this area. Instead of extending the line to Augusta, the railroad established a station and community near here and named it Gilman. Many people abandoned Augusta and moved to Gilman. Businesses, including the bank, also relocated to Gilman, precipitating a decade-long feud between the two communities. Even though Gilman flourished, Augusta stuck it out and refused to die. By 1923, draught, hard times, and the extension of the railroad to Augusta, caused the Gilman State Bank to close and the town to fade away. Many buildings in Gilman were physically relocated to Augusta. All that remains of Gilman are concrete sidewalks

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and the bank building, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1884.

Location. 47° 30.634′ N, 112° 21.928′ W. Marker is in Gilman, Montana, in Lewis and Clark County. It is on U.S. 287, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Augusta MT 59410, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Montana, in Gold West Country and in Greater Helena.

It is also in the American Mountain West

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

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 one other marker is within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Quinn's Garage (approx. 1.7 miles away).

Also see . . . Gilman State Bank NRHP Nomination Form (National Archives). (Submitted on October 7, 2020.)

Credits. This page was last revised on October 14, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 6, 2020, by Doreen Thomson of Calgary, Alberta Canada. This page has been viewed 2,581 times since then and 254 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on October 6, 2020, by Doreen Thomson of Calgary, Alberta Canada. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.