Ghost Towns Glendale
Ghost Towns of Gold West Country: Glendale
In 1875 a 40 ton lead smelter was built at Glendale to process silver and lead production from the local mines. It burned down in July of 1879, but was later rebuilt and enlarged. Ninety pound bars of bullion were shipped from the Glendale smelter to the American Smelting and Refining Company in Omaha, Nebraska for final refining. Kilns on nearby Canyon Creek supplied more than one million bushels of charcoal the smelter used annually.
In 1893, the mines were hit hard when the Sherman Silver Purchase Act was repealed, causing a disastrous drop in the price of silver. More misfortune continued when the mines began to run out of high grade ore, and in 1900 the smelter at Glendale was torn down.
Glendale is located off of I-15, near Melrose. From I-15, take exit 93 west onto Frontage Road which will change to Trapper Creek Road.
Contact Information
Beaverhead Deerlodge National Forest
Dillon Ranger District
420 Barrett St.
Dillon, MT 59725
Phone: 406-683-3900
