western history and
culture two national parks a beer trail and small towns
National
Parks
Montana is home to two national parks:
Glacier National Park crosses
the Continental Divide at Logan Pass, offering breathtaking views and opportunity
to see wildlife, the rugged terrain along the way and the many unspoiled lakes
on a wooden boat, kayak or canoe, a guided horseback ride, or hiking some of
the 700 miles of trails.
The Gateway to
Yellowstone National Park in South
central Montana and shared with Wyoming and Idaho, Yellowstone is the world’s
first national park. Renowned for its geysers, canyons, lakes, waterfalls and
wildlife, Yellowstone encompasses 2.2 million acres, of which 7 % are in
Montana. Three of the parks five entrances, Cooke City, Gardiner and West
Yellowstone are located in Montana and provide year-round adventure to this
wonderland of nature.
Beartooth Highway extends
from the quaint mountain town of Red Lodge and winds its way over the largest
true high elevation plateau in North America, all the way to the Northeast
Entrance of Yellowstone, near Cooke City; a spectacular 68 mile drive to
elevations over 10,000 feet through a land of glaciers, high alpine lakes,
glacier-carved cirques, and fragile tundra.
Small Towns and
Downtowns
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 majority of growth
in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Western History and Culture
Custer's Last Stand took
place at the Little Big Horn in 1876 when the US 7th Cavalry Regiment led by
Lt. Colonel George Armstrong Custer battled the Sioux and Cheyenne. Native
American powwows such as North American Indian Days in Browning or Crow Fair in
Hardin welcome visitors and give a glimpse into their traditional customs,
dance and music.
Ranch Vacations the state has many unique guest ranches of different types: dude,
working, or luxury resort ranches that offer a diverse array of activities from
horseback riding to fly fishing, spa treatments to gourmet meals, hiking to
rafting.
Rodeos are
held all summer throughout Montana providing insight into past and present
cowboy life. All rodeos, large or small, professional or down-home celebrations,
are family friendly events.
Beer Trails
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.