Why is Montana called ‘The Treasure State’?

After more than a century of producing gold, silver, copper, and other natural resources, Montana received the official nickname ‘The Treasure State’. It first appeared on the cover of a state promotional booklet in 1895 and gained widespread appeal thereafter.

Despite ‘The Treasure State’ being a fitting nickname, it wasn’t the first, or last, nickname Montana received – it was just the one that stuck.

Read on to find out why Montana is officially called ‘The Treasure State’ and which other nicknames Montana has donned over the years. 

In this article:

• Why Montana is called ‘The Treasure State’ – A land of treasures
• Other nicknames Montana has had over the years

Why is Montana called ‘The Treasure State’? – A land of treasures

A gold mining boom in Montana began in the late 19th century, followed by silver, coal, copper, platinum, and gemstones, all of which boosted the local and national economy for decades.

‘The Treasure State’ was the first nickname to gain popularity among the general population. The Montana Bureau of Agriculture, Labor, and Industry used it in a promotional brochure in 1895 and it later appeared on the state license plates from 1950 to 1966 and resumed in 2010. 

Here’s a brief history of Montana’s relationship with minerals.

Gold 

Gold kicked off the mining boom in Montana in the 1860s, which peaked and slowly died off over the next 30 years. 

Gold was first discovered by John White and his partner in 1862. Within years, several mining towns had popped up in southwest Montana, such as Bannack, Virginia City, and Last Chance Gultch, which later became Helena, the state capital. 

Throughout the 1860s and 1870s, people worldwide were rushing to Montana on the trail of gold and silver. When the gold became scarce through the 1870s and 1880s, the mining towns were abandoned, giving way to what would later become one of Montana’s most coveted tourist attractions – ghost towns.

Read more: 10 best ghost towns in Montana 

Silver

By the 1880s, gold mining had slowly subsided, and silver had replaced gold as the leading mineral mined in Montana. 

It became a primary industry as the U.S. mint bought Montana silver to mint into coins, and a similar boom and bust cycle unfolded.

Eventually, the government stopped minting silver coins in the fall of 1893, and silver mining nearly halted. Silver mining sites like Granite closed, giving way to more ghost towns. 

Copper

In 1882, Marcus Daly discovered copper near Butte, Montana, kicking off Montana’s decades-long copper era. 

Copper was used in telephone wires, electric engines, and power lines, and as worldwide demand for copper rose, Montana became the number one copper source in the U.S. As a result, Montana’s economy boomed, leading to the Montana Territory becoming a state in 1889.

Coal

Coal mining in Montana started in 1880 and flourished through the first half of the 20th century. By the 1940s, the industry had peaked, but the use of steam locomotives soon faded, and coal mining in Montana subsided.

Platinum

Platinum was first discovered in Montana in 1967, and within decades, a series of platinum mines had also emerged.

Today, platinum is still mined in Montana. 

Sapphire

Montana is also the only source of sapphire in the U.S. Initially, sapphire mining was a byproduct of the gold rushes of the 1860s.

Gold miners were discarding blue stones that were clogging their sluices. One day a miner saved some of the stones in a box and sent it off to an appraiser in Helena. The appraiser send it on to Tiffany & Company in New York, who deemed them the finest gemstones in the U.S.

And the Sapphire boom began. 

Agate and Garnet

Montana is also known for its Agate and Garnet deposits. Alder Gulch, one of the richest gold strikes in Montana, is also one of the best-known garnet locations in Montana. Garnets are still mined there for industrial use.

After more than a century of prolific mining, Montana aptly received the official nickname “The Treasure State’.

Today, mining production has slowed to a fraction of where it was in the late 1800s when Virginia City and the surrounding towns were booming. However, Butte remains a top tourist destination for anyone interested in Montana’s mining history.

Read more: Montana’s mining history – Long story short

However, ‘The Treasure State’ isn’t the only nickname Montana has received over the years – it’s the only one that stuck. 

Here are a few other nicknames Montana has donned since its establishment as a U.S. state.

Some of Montana’s other nicknames over the years

• Treasure State. Montana’s official nickname refers to the mineral resources, like gold and silver, found within the state. 
• Big Sky Country. This nickname comes from Alfred Bertram Guthrie Jr.’s book Big Sky and refers to Montana’s extensive skyline. The Montana State Highway Department started using it regularly in the 1960s for tourism promotion, and it stuck – today, it’s on some state license plates and the state’s quarter.
• Bonanza State. Like “The Treasure State’, this nickname refers to Montana’s abundant natural minerals, metals, and stones.
• Land of Shining Mountains. This nickname refers to the sparkling snowcaps atop the Rocky Mountains in the western part of the state, but for some people, it may hint at the minerals found in these mountains as well.
• Stubbed-Toe State. Its origin remains mostly unknown, but some people suspect it alludes to the dangers Montana’s mountains pose to hikers.

Read more: 13 Montana nicknames and the stories behind them

Why is Montana called ‘The Treasure State’? – Final words

Montana’s nickname represents the state’s history. All of Montana’s other state symbols celebrate various aspects of life in the state, from its history and wildlife to its geographical features. 

In addition to its official state nickname, Montana also has a state animal, bird, and flower – the grizzly bear, western meadowlark, and bitterroot, respectively. 

Another symbol of Montana is the state seal, which displays Montana’s landscape, with images of trees, mountains, and the Missouri River. In the forefront, the state seal also displays Montana’s farming and mining history with images of a plow, pick, and shovel: