Bannack Commemorates 162nd Anniversary of Henry Plummer Hanging with Biannual Re-Enactment

BANNACK, Mont. — Today marked the 162nd anniversary of the capture and hanging of notorious sheriff-turned-outlaw Henry Plummer in Bannack State Park, an event commemorated with the community’s biannual historical re-enactment.

The re-enactment was held under sunny skies with temperatures climbing into the high 30s — a notable departure from previous years when conditions are often near zero or well below. Despite the relatively mild weather, attendance was smaller than usual.

With fewer actors available, organizers made adjustments and improvised portions of the performance. Nevertheless, the event continued as planned, with members portraying the vigilantes and road agents who played key roles in one of Montana’s most infamous frontier-era events.

Plummer, along with two men accused of being part of his gang — Buck Stinson and Ned Ray — was captured on January 10, 1864, by a group of vigilantes in Bannack. The men were accused of leading a band of road agents responsible for robberies and murders in Bannack and the nearby Alder Gulch mining communities.

That evening, the accused were marched to the gallows and hanged. Ironically, Plummer had constructed the same gallows in 1863 for the execution of convicted murderer Peter Horan during his tenure as sheriff.

Historical accounts note that Ned Ray was the first to be hanged, followed by Buck Stinson. Plummer was the last to face execution after requesting time to pray and asking for what he described as “a good drop.” According to records, he died quickly.

The biannual re-enactment serves as both a remembrance of Bannack’s turbulent past and an educational opportunity for visitors to learn more about Montana’s vigilante era and early territorial history.

Events like these continue to draw interest to Bannack State Park, preserving the stories — and controversies — that helped shape Montana’s frontier legacy.