Armstead, Montana

Armstead is a former community in Beaverhead County, Montana, United States, about 21 miles (34 km) south of the county seat of Dillon. It was named after miner Harry Armstead.[2] Armstead was located in a narrow valley of the Beaverhead River, near the mouth of Horse Prairie Creek. The town was a station stop on the Union Pacific Railroad line from Idaho Falls, Idaho to Butte, Montana. There was a post office in Armstead from 1907 to 1962.

Armstead
Ghost town
Armstead Location of Armstead in Montana
Coordinates: 44°58′21″N 112°51′51″W[1]
Country	United States
State	Montana
County	Beaverhead
Established	1907
Abandoned	1962
Named for	Harry Armstead
Elevation	5,545 ft (1,690 m)

Armstead is perhaps best remembered as the eastern terminus and headquarters of the Gilmore and Pittsburgh Railroad, which operated a line from there to Salmon, Idaho between 1910 and 1939.

The Lewis and Clark expedition traveled past the future location of Armstead during its westward trek in 1805.[3]

The construction of Clark Canyon Dam in 1961–1964 created a reservoir that completely inundated the former site of Armstead. The town was still a viable community when the decision to build the dam was made. Because of this, some people do not categorize Armstead as being a ghost town. When the water level is low enough parts of the old highway, railroad, and even some building foundations are still visible.

Notes

1. "Armstead". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
2. "Montana History: Place Names (A-B)". Archived from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2017.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
3. Fanselow, Julie (1 May 2003). Traveling the Lewis and Clark Trail. Globe Pequot Press. p. 207. ISBN 978-0-7627-2589-2.