Miner’s Days Presentations

Saturday, September 13th

Sponsored by

The Alder Gulch Historical Association and The Elling House Arts and Humanities Center

All Presentations Will Take Place At:

The Elling House Arts and Humanities Center

404 East Idaho Street, Virginia City, Montana 59755

For more information, call 406-843-5454 or 406-843-5507

PRESENTATION SCHEDULE:

10:30 AM - Discovery Men: The Gold Find at Alder Gulch

Presented by renowned local historian Gary Forney - Hear about the men who made the initial

gold discovery in Alder Gulch — a pivotal moment that sparked one of Montana’s greatest gold

rushes.

11:30 AM - History of the Elling House

Discover the story of the Elling family and explore this 1870s Alder Gulch landmark

12:30 PM - Trails to Alder Gulch: Journeys West

Learn about the trails fortune-seekers used to make their way to Alder Gulch’s gold.

1:30 PM - What They Wore: Mining Town Fashion

Learn about 19th-century fashion and dress typical of the settlers, miners, and townswomen

wore for daily life and labor in the 1860s Alder Gulch.

2:30 PM - Historic Gun Presentation

Learn about 19th-century firearms and their historical use through an up-close look at these

weapons.

3:30 PM - Post Offices in Alder Gulch

Learn about Alder Gulch’s post offices, their importance and how the mail system operated

between the gold fields and the States.

ALL DAY DEMONSTRATIONS:

Historic Masonry Demonstration:

Mix lime mortar, choose stones, and placing stones. Watch and learn about the time-honored masonry skills used for historic miner’s cabins.  

Music from the States:

Enjoy traditional music of the era, brought to life through authentic performance and interpretation.

Historic Quilting: Threads of the Past:

Learn about quilts travelers made and used on their way to the Alder Gulch and see reproductions.

Tin Smith Demonstration:

Watch a skilled tinsmith demonstrate the craft of tin-smithing using authentic 19th-century tools

and techniques.

The Art of Broom Making Demonstration:

Watch a skilled historic broom maker, demonstrate the traditional craft of broom making and explain how these essential tools were made and used by miners and townspeople in daily life.

Chuckwagon Cooking:

Visit a uniquely portable open-air kitchen and pantry on wagon wheels and discover how chuckwagon cooks were equipped to feed large groups while traveling across the frontier.

Making Fiber:

See how raw wool and plant fibers were transformed into cordage and yarn using traditional 19th-century tools and techniques.

Cooking in the Gulch:

Learn about historic cooking and what foods were available to those living in remote Alder Gulch.