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Bannack, Montana - Interactive Quiz

Test what you know about Bannack's gold rush, vigilantes, Civil War connections, and how it became a ghost town and state park.

Quiz: Bannack Gold and History

Question 1

1. Why did Bannack grow so quickly in 1862?

People wanted to build a new capital city. A railroad and highway were built through the town. Prospectors discovered gold along Grasshopper Creek. It was the only safe place during the Civil War.

Question 2

2. What kind of gold did miners first find at Bannack?

Gold hidden in tree roots. Placer gold, loose grains in sand and gravel. Gold coins buried by soldiers. Only gold locked deep in hard rock.

Question 3

3. How did miners at Bannack usually get the gold out of the creek at first?

By using giant drilling machines. By blasting the hills with dynamite. By panning and using simple tools to wash away lighter sand and gravel. By melting entire boulders in furnaces.

Question 4

4. Why was Bannack briefly important to the government in 1864?

It became the first capital of the Montana Territory. It was chosen as the first territorial capital where leaders met and passed early laws. It became the capital of the entire United States. It was the main base for Union soldiers.

Question 5

5. What were vigilantes in Bannack and nearby camps?

Official police officers hired by the U.S. Army. Citizens who took the law into their own hands and hanged suspected criminals. Miners who only hunted for food. Teachers who ran the town school.

Question 6

6. What is one reason modern historians question the old story about Sheriff Henry Plummer?

There is strong proof he led a huge, organized gang. He never actually lived in Bannack. There is little solid evidence that he led a large outlaw gang, and much of the story comes from unproven accusations. He was found not guilty in a modern court.

Question 7

7. How was Bannack's gold connected to the Civil War?

It was used to build new forts in Bannack. It was buried so no one could use it. Gold from Bannack and other camps was shipped east, turned into money, and helped pay for supplies and trade during the war. It only helped Confederate armies.

Question 8

8. What showed that Bannack's miners were divided during the Civil War?

Everyone agreed to stop mining until the war ended. Union supporters camped in "Yankee Flats," while many Confederate supporters camped across Grasshopper Creek. Only Union soldiers were allowed to mine. Only Confederate soldiers were allowed to mine.

Question 9

9. What happened to Bannack after the richest gold was gone?

It became a giant modern city. Most miners left for other gold fields, the population shrank, and the town slowly turned into a ghost town. It became the permanent capital of Montana. It became a major factory town.

Question 10

10. What is Bannack today?

A closed military base. A private mine with no visitors allowed. A state park and well-preserved ghost town with historic buildings visitors can explore. A large shopping mall.

Updated: February 9, 2026

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