Bozeman in 1864, John
Bozeman led a wagon train over Bozeman Pass into the Gallatin Valley, where his
friends W. J. Beall and D. E. Rouse staked out the town site for the city of
Bozeman. It is considered
one of the most diverse small towns in the Rocky Mountains, with a mix of
ranchers, artists, professors, ski enthusiasts and entrepreneurs drawn here by Montana’s
world-class outdoor recreation.
Billings was
established in 1882 with the coming of the Northern Pacific Railroad. Today it
is a major shipping center for cattle and other agricultural products and is Montana's largest city.
Known as Montana's Trailhead, it has access to the Beartooth Mountains, the Yellowstone
River and local trails.
Missoula is nestled in the heart of the northern Rockies in the
western part of the state. Home to the country's largest smokejumper
base, the historic downtown features classic early-century buildings and unique
galleries, shops and restaurants. All three are excellent year-round bases to
explore Montana.
Butte
is a melting pot of ethnicities and culture that shape it to this day.
From all corners of the world, immigrants came to this tough mining town,
created distinct neighborhoods, and brought with them the cultural heritage of
their native countries of Ireland, Wales, China, Croatia, Italy, Serbia,
Lebanon, England, Canada, and Finland. Butte’s very placement near the crest of
the Continental Divide is unique. The sheer elevation of nearly 6,000
feet makes the journey to the city a challenge. The terrain of the city
is a dichotomy between “the flats,” a stretch of even terrain that spreads
south, and Uptown Butte, the face of the city that saw the most growth in the
late 1800s and early 1900s.
Beer Trail
Montana's vast farmland provides ample area for wheat and hops
production and is home to 53 breweries, the most per capita in the country.
Experience a walking brewery tour in historic downtown Billings where six breweries and one distillery are within walking
distance of each other. Or tour the Bitterroot Valley south of Missoula and try
seasonal varieties. Taste samples of brews such as Mountain Man Stout, Pigs Ass
Porter or Coldsmoke throughout the state at many local craft breweries, each
with their own special brews and character.