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

Hangman’s Building

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 6, 2009

1. Hangman’s Building Marker

Inscription. On January 14, 1864, the Vigilantes used the heavy center support beam of this building, then under construction, to hang five of Henry Plummer’s road agents: Frank Parish, Boone Helm, Jack Gallagher, Haze Lyons and Club Foot George Lane. Druggists Clayton, Hale and then Morris occupied the completed building until the 1880s when the U.S. Post Office was located here. In 1903, the Virginia City Water Company, owned and operated by Sarah Bickford, purchased the property and maintained offices here until her death in 1939. Bickford was perhaps the only black woman in state history to own a utility, a remarkable achievement in turn-of-century Montana. This property contributes to the Virginia City Historic District • Listed in the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior • In cooperation with the Montana Historical Society

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Industry & Commerce • Women. A significant historical date for this entry is January 14, 1864.

Location. 45° 17.618′ N, 111° 56.716′ W. Marker is in Virginia City, Montana, in Madison County. It is at the intersection of Wallace Street and Van Buren Street on Wallace Street. The Hangman's Building is located on the north side of Wallace Street at Van Buren

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Street. 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: Saving Montana''s History (a few steps from this marker); Charlie & Sue (a few steps from this marker); Virginia City in the 1940s - a New Beginning (a few steps from this marker); The Remarkable Sarah Bickford (a few steps from this marker); Allen and Millard Bank (within shouting distance of this marker); Elling Bank (within shouting distance of this marker); Creighton Stone Block (within shouting distance of this marker); Barlett’s Blacksmith Shop (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Virginia City.

Also see . . .
1. Montana Vigilantes. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on October 4, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2. The Vigilantes of Virginia City, Montana: A Tale of Old West Justice. Montana Historian website entry (Submitted on October 4, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Additional keywords. lynching, vigilantes

Hangman’s Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 6, 2009

2. Hangman’s Building

The marker is between the right door and window.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 5, 2022

3. Hangman’s Building

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 5, 2022

4. Hangman’s Building

Credits. This page was last revised on October 4, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 13, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 983 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 13, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 3, 4. submitted on September 24, 2022, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.