Philipsburg

A small, picturesque town in Montana named Philipsburg was formerly a significant mining region. The region has produced well-known deposits of geological minerals, including the famous Montana sapphires. Interested individuals can pan for their own Montana sapphires in the town, either in one of the shops there or by visiting some of the abandoned silver and gemstone mines in the mountains and ghost towns nearby.

Philipsburg is also surrounded by no less than 75 named lakes and reservoirs and is situated in an incredibly scenic area of Montana. It's not difficult to understand why so many people stop by this charming small town for a variety of reasons, not to mention its fascinating historical background. The ore smelters that once made up a significant portion of the town's landscape were reportedly designed by a well-known mining engineer by the name of Philip Deidesheimer, hence the town's name.

The hills and landscape still show some signs of the massive deposits of gold, manganese, sapphires, and even silver that were once present there. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, thousands of men relied on the local mines in the area for their livelihood. It's difficult to imagine that this area was once the scene of some thriving activity that is now only marked by the dilapidated remains of old shacks, other important structures, and mines. Granite Ghost Town and a few other similar old haunts can be found in Philipsburg.