The town of Elkhorn, Montana, grew up surrounding the Elkhorn Mine and reached a population of 2,500 in the late 1800s. The mine was discovered in 1870 and further developed in 1875. Elkhorn's cemetery sadly contains graves of many children that died from September 1888 through August 1889. Their deaths were a result of a very hard winter, coupled with a diphtheria epidemic.
By February of 1888, the mine had been worked down to an 800 foot level and produced ore valued at $30,000 per month. In 1892 the price of silver fell and the boom days of this mine were over. Later, daily rail service on a branch line was cut and in 1931 the tracks were removed.
A 20 mile gravel road leads to the remnants of town, were a few people live. Pictured here is one of a few remaining buildings at Elkhorn. The doctor's office is slowly sagging, giving way to time and the unseen forces of gravity.