Gravity: Montana's Bannack State Park

We've long been fascinated by decaying old buildings in rural areas. These structures seem to share a common life story: They are old, often more than a century. Most are invisible to their owners—these structures have been abandoned to time and gravity. Many of the photos will be black and white. The contrast and tones in the weathered wood and other details makes this an excellent subject for B&W photography. Some will be color images, when we feel color adds something to the story the picture tells.

The photos on this page are all from Montana's Bannack State Park, a preserved mining “ghost” town in southwestern Montana. It's a fascinating place to explore, hike, and photograph. The park's official Web site has much more information, including maps, a FAQ, and photos.

We have an article about our interest in these old structures, and the project we set for ourselves to build this body of work. With these photos we strive for maximum detail, in an attempt to bring out the beauty in weathered wood, loose nails, peeling paint, rusting metal.

Click an image below to see a larger version. Mouse over the larger picture to see navigation controls for the previous or next picture, or use your keyboard's right and left arrow keys. To visit the Galleries page, click the link in the table of contents at left.

The school and Masonic Hall reflected in old glass in Bannack, Montana, U.S.

The view south through the back door of a cabin in Bannack.

Bannack's Meade Hotel under a stormy sky.

A cabin in the hills above Bannack.

A row of buildings in Bannack, with the hills to the south as background.

Bannack's sod-roofed Jail, with the hills to the south as background.