Philipsburg Montana Activities
Philipsburg was named after the inventor of
square-set mine timbering, Philip Deidesheimer. His
first name was easier to say than his last. The town was
often referred to as "The Burg." Philipsburg was settled
in 1866 as a trading center for the various nearby
settlements.
Philipsburg is famous silver country and another
exceptional camp that still lives. Here was the Hope
Mill, the first silver mill in Montana, which doubled as
a fort when Indians went of the warpath. A mile away is
Granite, the greatest silver producer of all.
The 1890s mining town has been renovated into a National
Historic Business District. Quaint shops, walking or
auto tours, and guides into the ghost towns are
available.
Philipsburg
was a town selected by the Governor as Montana's First
Tourism Community of the Year and also has been given
recognition as one of the nation's Prettiest Painted
Places. The state's oldest operating school, jail and
opera house are part of a walking tour of remarkable
architecture. Ghost towns, sapphire mining, a silver
mining museum and a grand candy store combine with some
of the friendliest folks you have ever met to make your
visit like the fabled Brigadoon that rises from the mist
every 100 years.
A popular recreation area, Georgetown Lake is 10 miles
from Philipsburg and offers a beautiful mountain
setting, fishing, boating, and camping. Try some
prospecting at the Sapphire Gallery or visit the Granite
County Museum and Mine Exhibit, home of the Ghost Town
Hall of Fame.
Elevation: 5,270 feet
