Near Virginia City in Madison County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)

Home on the Claim

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 5, 2022

1. Home on the Claim Marker

Captions (right side, top to bottom) This wikiup still stands in the Ruby Mountains.; Wikiups quickly gave way to larger towns at rich gold strikes such as Alder Gulch. This photo shows a bustling and crowded Nevada City on July 4th, 1865.; A blacksmith shop in Nevada City, MT c. 1880.

Inscription. When in the hills, prospectors often constructed temporary shelters called wikiups. Minters stood poles in a half circle and bound smaller ends together at the top with a cord. Evergreen boughs were planted against this conical frame work forming a mostly weatherproof shelter. Based on Native American shelter similar to tipis, wikiups date back thousands of years. Miners often selected dense thickets for their encampments and sometimes covered the wikiups with cloth or canvas to further protect them from the elements. In winter, prospectors packed snow against the side of the wikiups for additional insulation. Fires built at the entrance of the shelter reflected heat back inside. More permanent structures soon sprang up at significant gold strikes like Alder Gulch.

Erected by Montana Heritage Commission, Montana History Foundation.

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

Location. 45° 17.341′ N, 111° 56.672′ W. Marker is near Virginia City, Montana, in Madison County. It is on Grant Mine Road near Alder Gulch Road, on the

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left when traveling south. The marker is located in Discovery - Ellingsen Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Virginia City MT 59755, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Montana, in Gold West Country, in Mining Country and in Greater Bozeman.

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 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Discovery - Ellingsen Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Vigilantes in Montana (within shouting distance of this marker); Virginia City (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Integration on the Mining Frontier (approx. 0.2 miles away); African American Entrepreneurs (approx. 0.2 miles away); Coggswell - Taylor Cabins (approx. 0.2 miles away); Thomas Francis Meagher Residence (approx. ¼ mile away); Thomas Francis Meager

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 5, 2022

2. Home on the Claim Marker

(approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Virginia City.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 2, 2022. It was originally submitted on October 31, 2022, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 240 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 31, 2022, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.