Coolidge ghost town on the Pioneer Mountain Scenic Byway is the home of the largest silver mill in Montana, yet it only operated to capacity for about six months. We’ll look at the rise and fall of this mining camp, examine what life was like for residents during its 1920s heyday, and introduce how a proposed self-guided tour will improve visitors’ experiences. We’ll also discuss future opportunities to help stabilize and protect what remains of this unique ghost town after the US Forest Service wraps up reclamation efforts at the mill site in late summer 2026.

Ayme Swartz is the Forest Archeologist and Heritage Program Manager for the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. Ciara Pares Kempf is a historian and writer who specializes in discovering the untold stories and underrepresented populations of the West. She is an active member and contributor to the Big Hole Valley Historical Society, and is based in Anaconda.

The Brown Bag presentation will begin at noon on Wednesday, April 8^th, 2026, and will last about an hour. The presentation will be held in the auditorium at the Butte-Silver Bow Public Archives, located at 17 W. Quartz Street. Guests are encouraged to bring a sack lunch. Coffee and water will be provided.

Brown Bag Lunches are held on the second and fourth Wednesdays of every month. Upcoming lectures will focus on topics of local interest. For more information, contact the Archives at (406)782-3280.