West of Dillon is Bannack State Park, on the site of a former mining town. In 1863 Sidney Edgerton, a lawyer from Ohio, arrived in the vicinity and stayed throughout the winter season. When he visited Washington, D.C., in the spring, he advocated the creation of a new territory; President Abraham Lincoln named Edgerton governor and Bannack the temporary capital. The following year the territory's seat was moved to the boomtown of Virginia City.
Fishing is a popular recreational pursuit in the area. Some of Montana's higher mountains can be seen from scenic I-15, which follows the Beaverhead and Red Rock rivers to the Idaho border.
Visitor Centers
Beaverhead Chamber of Commerce 10 W. Reeder St. Dillon, MT 59725. Phone:(406)683-5511
Self-guiding Tours
A brochure outlining a walking tour of historic Dillon is available from the chamber of commerce and the Beaverhead County Museum.