Just want to say a quick thanks to Tom and Emma for going out to these places so I can live vicariously through them and add places to visit to my list. Keep up the good work guys.
This is my favorite side of Montana and I like to remind out of staters about it. Montana isn't a travel destination or a summer home, it's a grave full of broken dreams. So don't let it get any more expensive for the locals that do live here.
Yes, thank you!! Of course its insanely beautiful here, but there’s so much history that newcomers completely disregard or want to eradicate to built on.
Just think about the state of mind of the people that came to this town in search of a new life. Maybe they were headed west in an attempt to escape the civil war that was or had been raging back east. With silver being discovered in 1865, that would have been the last year of the civil war so I'm sure people were seeking a different place to live hoping to escape those horrors. Great video Tom, I really enjoy these videos and hopefully one day I'll be able to visit Philipsburg as it looks like a really interesting place to explore.
Can only imagine the relief those people felt when they finally had their destination in sight after that long journey. Even though most of them probably just earned a living through hard, intense labor.
I love the ghost town series. So many places I will probably never able to visit myself, with so much interesting history. And the decay is always so fascinating.
Thank you so much Tom, Emma and crew for documenting all this history, the history of the lives of ordinary men and women who built America. Your channel is a treasure!
The image at 26:25 that overlays the town onto a modern image of the area blows my mind. It's incredible how so much history is lost so easily. If I were to walk through that area today I simply couldn't imagine that there was once a massive town there. You'd think there would be more left over given just how many buildings were there.
I used to have a house that had a chimney like the one in Mae's cabin. It was for the kitchen stove, which was a wood-burning stove. That type of chimney is rare to see anymore. The house I had was built in 1892 in Oregon.
My sister was married to an electrician who worked in the silver mines around Coeur D’Alene Idaho & I’ve got a beautiful memory from visiting there in the mid 1970’s
I'm not sure how to describe how interesting this is, as someone who grew up in the wild west, these towns are so full of history it makes me long to know the story of the people. Another splendid video Tom.
The most underrated historical places channel in all of RU-vid. I absolutely LOVE your Ghost Town series and anytime you go anywhere of a notable event and overlay the maps and old photos and what not. Thank you!
Thanks for sharing Montana with the world! There is so much history lost in our mountains. Hundreds of ghost towns returning to nature with little or no info on many of them. Nearby Butte MT is the City that electrified America with its copper. America enjoyed the growth of industrialization on the backs of our boys who pulled the valuable ore from deep in the earth. Much like mines all over the country.
I pretty much say this every time I watch one of your videos, but seriously, they are just so well done. Full of artistry, integrity, well paced, lovely to look at, full of incredible information. My thumbs up isn't just a like. It is utter admiration and complete appreciation.
The partial chimney was quit common in the late 1800s and the early 1900s. My family owns a house in western Ks that has one and another abandoned house in central Kansas has one as well.
It's always amazing these huge towns that were all over the States and all of it was cleaned up and removed. Like where is this town? Where did it go? It's crazy!
It's especially interesting to me as someone half English, the US was formed less than 250 years ago, and we have places like this that popped up and were totally wiped away for the land to be used again and all that, when in many places in Europe, you can still find people living in houses *or Castles* and castle towns that were built well before the US mining settlements! It's interesting to think about the reasons why civilizations do or don't do something
“Big Slim” ❤ The size of some of those wooden beams is incredible. The trees that they were cut from would have be absolutely enormous. BIG ancient trees, amazing. I’m interested, did you notice any termite damage done to those surviving wooden structures?
I'm actually from Montana and visited granite a few times. Thank you for putting this history into a palatable format. I was always curious about knowing this information but never had the patience to listen to a poor audio quality professors presentation that brush over granite cuz their focus is on the greater mining operations in Montana. Really appreciate you taking the time to put this out and happy I found your channel the more I work through the interesting videos you've put out
If you like long form content, you’d enjoy the audiobook of Fire and Brimstone. It’s about the 1917 mine disaster in Butte. Before the Berkeley pit lol
You do an amazing job on your videos. The massive deadly rockslide video was one of my first ones I've watched. Now i just want to binge watch them all. Maybe if i get a sick day sometime soon i can do that! Thanks for the history lesson
I lived in a national forest area in NoCal years ago, first a log cabin, then what we called a frame house. That chimney with the wood under it is a fire waiting to happen. Snob Hill, lol. Usually one sees Montana as all hilly and prairies like. Mining is so dangerous even today, not an easy occupation and always dangerous. TYSM for this!!
My wife, dog, cat and I explored Granite in 2015 on a cross country move from Florida to Alaska. It was one of the highlights of our trip and we spent an entire day between the Phillipsburg historical society and the actual visit to the town. Places like this are special to American history, and play an important yet underappreciated role in our story. Walking down the streets and what used to be streets, while holding photos like the ones you showed is a very surreal experience.
This is one of the few really, really good historical channels on RU-vid. Every single one of your episodes are feature length, documentary quality films and I love them all. I have yet to watch a lot of them, but that's good, as I treasure these tales. This isn't just one of the best historical channels on American history on the tube. It's one of the best overall historical channels on the tube, due to the sheer quality of work you and the team put into these. Thank you so much for yet another great video, I am looking forward to hearing more of the US that once were.
The east coast of AmeriKa has 100's & I would bet near 1000 disappeared towns FAR FAR less remains of them.. MANY absolutely nothing.. A few remained on Google MaPS per 2008.. I would visit them.. Just a spec on the google maps and NOTHING there what so ever.. One, I remember because I grew up next to it.. It was a town called Heverly, Pennsylvania. As a Preteen there was an eerily old decrepit coal tipple there.. by mid teens is was torn down & NOTHING there for a decade.. By my mid 20's a Federal program came in and built a Half way home for ex cons. Maybe dozens reside there and a few workers... The place is 4 Miles on either side from any type of town civilization.
Very cool, interesting & fascinating documentary! I've never heard of Granite or Phillipsburg before, but now I'm glad I have! As a complete newbie to archeology like this, I can understand why so many people enjoy visiting, exploring & learning about these kinds of places.
Thanks so much for such a wonderful video...very informative and historical...excellent insight to our history...sure hope those vandals have gotten their just do...
Another winner!! I love these explorations -- all the different types. But the ones about old mining towns are especially fascinating to me. My dad was a self-taught geologist/prospector/miner and so this sheds some light on my family history.
This video my friend is very comprehensive , I went there years ago , had plenty to drink in Phillipsburg at the brewery . I live east of granite for 34 years now . been to quite a few ghost towns in montana . love your work. PS. You should go to Bannack. THANK YOU FRANK FROM MONTANA......
I was able to visit P Burg when we were assigned to a forest fire near there in 1988. We were from southern Arizona and felt like we stepped back in a time machine. What an amazing place. Thank you for the great videao. What an amazing history
The half brick chimney was common, it would have been used with a wood fired cookstove, or a wood/coal heating stove. A single wall steel chimney would have been used between the cook/heating stove and the brick chimney, and entered thru the small hole at base of brick chimney. Back then a brick chimney thru the roof was the best protection against chimney fires, the bricks being great insulators.
Fantastic story. Really enjoyed it. I sure wish Tom and Emma could make it to a tiny ghost town in North East Washington State in Okanogan county Washington, called Bolster. Be very interested in a deep dive of that town.
I would just like to say that you're really doing an excellent job. The well put together combination of your footage coupled with the historical maps, drawings and photos makes the videos a pleasure to watch. Your narration is professional with just a smidgen of well placed humor. Always very interesting. Thanks for taking us along on your historical explorations. May your hardwork continue to bring you increased success.
I absolutely love this channel.. it's a great production.. in-depth history.. everything you need all in one place.. thank you for all your hard work... It's always a pleasure to be here and always relaxed when watching your productions...10/10 Tom and Emma and co .. waiting for the next one.. I wish you all a very merry Christmas and all the best success for 2024.. Happy Christmas everyone.
Love your documentaries PTE. Here is a tragedy that I would like to learn more about if you are interested in doing a documentary. The East Cleveland Gas Explosion on October 20th, 1944 131 souls lost.
What a beautiful old place.lots of interesting history, and fascinating to listen to. An excellently put together video as always. Very well filmed and presented. You really should be a professional documentary filmmaker and presenter. Well done keep up the great content.
I stumbled across your channel about 6 months ago and I have enjoyed every minute of them. I instantly subscribed. I enjoy how you bring history to life with the way you explain it. Thank you very much.
Great video! Your videos tell the most nuanced and engaging stories. Tom, if you’re ever around California’s Central Coast, the ghost town of New Idria is a special example of a mercury boomtown that had a huge impact on the industries of the west coast in the early 20th century, and I think it’d be right up your alley.
Splendid study on the history of Granite. The overlays are always so fascinating. With so many of these old towns, there's always a 'big fire' ...and Freemasons, then the state takes over, making the area state or national park. Patterns? it's like watching a sheepdog herding a flock of sheep. just saying (stay in your 15-min city!)
Your videos have inspired me to re-explore my own family history. My grandmothers aunt was Bernice (bitsy) Dombroski. One of the first 3 women to work in a mine in Oceola Mills PA. She recently passed away. Idk why im so fascinated. But i am. Thank you for your hard work and inspiration to those of us who just watch.
I do a lot of mine exploring, but sometimes its hard to find detailed historical documentation behind some of the locations. This is pure American history, thank you for giving us this fascinating story
I love this channel and all the true history, and that just what they want us to learn in school. But the true engineering and design that went into all of this back then is truly fascinating. This is day before codes, and permits and the such. And look at how much is still standing today. Truly fascinating!
I lived in Hamilton, Montana, for a few years and often went through the Phillipsburg area. This is the first of your videos I’ve watched sand I am now a fan. Excellent work, the overlays and back stories are well done. Thank you.
What an amazing video! You did a wonderful job of documenting Granite. The research alone put into the video must have taken a very long time! Thanks so much for sharing it with us!
Wow, what a place!! Reminds me very much of Sandon, B.C. If you ever make it up to Alberta or B.C. again I highly recommend checking out the Kootenays and more specifically, the valley of the ghosts between Kaslo and New Denver.
Thank you for visiting it for us. Actually went through Philipsburg in November 2015, don't remember it like you describe (maybe because it was off season), I just stopped at the laundromat there for an overdue batch of laundry, I remember it being clean and well taken care of with even a shower for travelers. Chatted with a friendly local about car camping (my bed was actually the front passenger seat of my old Corolla for a month). On my way out (or maybe in?), saw the sign for Granite ghost town so of course I had to go! Probably not even halfway up the "unmaintained, unfrequented road", my rusty exhaust line fell out partially and I had to precariously park over a ditch to reattach it with paracord so I didn't lose it entirely. The cord didn't melt because the exhaust gases never made it through to the back, they were all shot out of the middle of the car, making a hell of a racket. Couldn't find a mechanic for dozens of miles either so I finally had it towed all the way to Missoula because I was going crazy with the noise. Never got to see the town unfortunately but that's still a good story to tell. Might go through there again when I go back west, there's still so much I want to see. Making sure my car is in better shape this time around.
I have been to granite many years ago. Infact, my oldest brother used to be the elected Sherriff of Granite County. It is interesting to see your video of it with all the detail. The town was in a lot better condition when my wife and I went up there, 4-wheeling. That was in about 1979. Thank you for making this video. I am a recent subscriber. I found your channel through the algorithm.
I had a great great uncle leave NJ in a Conestoga wagon and travel across the country to live in Oklahoma. I have the newspaper clipping when he went as it was a big deal for the townspeople. He got married and had 8 children and lived a long life. I can't imagine how hard that journey was.
Thanks, liked this a lot. One thing to keep in mind about old mining towns, the stamp mill never stopped. There was noise and vibration 24/7/365. Never quiet, even at midnight:30.
I live in Missoula and have been to Granite Ghost Town only a couple times- the last time being 10 years ago. I have learned so much from this video. I had no idea how populated Granite once was. Thanks for doing such an interesting and informative video. And yes, Phillipsburg is quite the quintessential American small town.
In the middle of watching this video and had to stop to write this comment. I’m a history junky and love to watch videos such as this one. The quality, thoughts and research went into this is superb. Narration, cinematography and information delivered beautifully. Thank you! .
