Today they are quiet, fragile memories, but during four decades in the 19th century, Montana's mining ghost towns sprang up as sites of hope and outposts of town life in rugged locations, each one a future city booming its advantages and riches.

Few people get to see these remote places in person the way the Rolands have, but 250 of their rich color photographs capture landscapes, townsites, homes stores, mining structures, close-up details, and more for the rest of us to savor.

Seventy-seven historical black and whites, newspaper "clippings" and anecdotal text help tell the stories of the thousands of hard-working people, those who preyed on them, and a few larger=than-life characters.

Author:  Barbara Fifer

Photographs:  Larry & Vivian Roland