Philipsburg was named after the inventor of square-set mine timbering, Philip Deidesheimer. His first name was easier to say than his last. The town was often referred to as "The Burg." Philipsburg was settled in 1866 as a trading center for the various nearby settlements.

Philipsburg is famous silver country and another exceptional camp that still lives. Here was the Hope Mill, the first silver mill in Montana, which doubled as a fort when Indians went on the warpath. A mile away is Granite, the greatest silver producer of all.

The 1890s mining town has been renovated into a National Historic Business District. Quaint shops, walking or auto tours, and guides into the ghost towns are available.

Philipsburg was a town selected by the Governor as Montana's First Tourism Community of the Year and also has been given recognition as one of the nation's Prettiest Painted Places. The state's oldest operating school, jail and opera house are part of a walking tour of remarkable architecture. Ghost towns, sapphire mining, a silver mining museum and a grand candy store combine with some of the friendliest folks you have ever met to make your visit like the fabled Brigadoon that rises from the mist every 100 years.

A popular recreation area, Georgetown Lake is 10 miles from Philipsburg and offers a beautiful mountain setting, fishing, boating, and camping. Try some prospecting at the Sapphire Gallery or visit the Granite County Museum and Mine Exhibit, home of the Ghost Town Hall of Fame.

Elevation: 5,270 feet

Philipsburg is located in southwestern Montana, between Butte and Missoula, south of Drummond on Highway 1.

Courtesy of www.TravelMT.com