Bannack State Park - Photo Tour

Located directly west of the church, the Roe/Graves house was built by William Roe in 1866 or 1867. It was the first frame house built in Bannack. William Roe was one of the first of many to become rich in Bannack. He arrived in Bannack in 1862, and even though he filed one of the first claims in the new mining town, his interests turned to freighting, merchandising, and banking. He and his brother, Isaac, opened a general store and meat market and soon after that licensed a banking business to buy gold. He was one of the Vigilantes to capture Plummer, Stinson, and Ray the night they were hanged. He later moved to Dillon and was one of the incorporators of the State Bank in 1899.

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The home was later acquired by F.L. Graves directly after he developed the first electric dredge. Upon the launch of the electric dredge by Mr. Graves, he was honored with some very elaborate gifts. He was awarded an ebony-headed cane and a solid gold watch. Instead of the usual numbers around the dial, F. Louis. Graves, was engraved around the dial with the F. representing the numeral 12 and the G representing the numeral 6. The house was owned and occupied by the Graves family up until its acquisition by the park.