admin | March 9, 2010
Just a note: Today marks the 130th anniversary of the entrance of the first railroad into Montana (Territory). On March 9, 1880, the Utah and Northern laid tracks over Monida Pass. In their book “The Battle for Butte,” Michael Malone and William Lang wrote of the occasion: “Butte folks sipped champagne and listened joyously to [...]
admin | January 29, 2010
Thanks to Minie Smith for pointing this out. She’s been researching the Fires of 1910 for the Fort Missoula museum and came across a large ad in the Aug. 20, 1910, Missoulian (the day the fires took off). There’s a photo of the Merc in the middle top with “1885″ on one side and “1910″ [...]
admin | January 20, 2010
This from the folks at the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula: “It’s the end of an era, the end of a Missoula landmark, the end of 143 years as the centerpiece of downtown Missoula. The Historical Museum at Fort Missoula joins the rest of Missoula in mourning the departure of Macy’s, still affectionately known to [...]
admin | December 8, 2009
We’re in the early stages of the 150th anniversary of construction of the Mullan Road (see story in Missoulian, Dec. 5) and if you’re like me you get to wondering what it was like around here in 1859-60. George Weisel’s trusty “Men and Trade on the Northwest Frontier,” a remarkable study based on the ledger [...]
admin | November 9, 2009
Our state’s 120th birthday came and went yesterday (Sunday) without much fanfare. Nov. 8, 1889 Following a series of “whereas” clauses, a proclamation signed by President Benjamin Harrison at 10:40 a.m. in Washington, D.C., concluded: “I … declare and proclaim the fact that the conditions imposed by Congress on the State of Montana, to entitle [...]
admin | June 29, 2009
Here’s a fascinating story that some of the UFO sites on the Internet have picked up in recent years. Cadotte Pass is the next pass up from Rogers on Highway 200, and was well-used in the pre-highway days. I’m heading up that way today with my bike. Think I’ll take a look around. I’ll let [...]
admin | June 23, 2009
If you’re into early western Montana history and have access to microfilm at the UM, Missoula or state historic libraries every once in awhile, check out the Dec. 15, 1912, edition of the Missoulian. One of the gems is a discussion by Judge Frank Woody of steamboats in Western Montana. Referring to an article he [...]
admin | June 22, 2009
From FWP: Visit Salmon Lake State Park on Saturday evening, June 27 and get a glimpse into the Nez Perce War of 1877 through the eyes of Major Charles Rawn. The program starts at 8 p.m. at Salmon Lake State Park’s campground amphitheater, approximately 5 miles south of Seeley Lake just off Highway 83. The [...]
admin | May 26, 2009
We’re talking historic dates here. Consult previous post below about May 26, 1863. One year later, President Abraham Lincoln put his John Henry on a bill creating Montana Territory from Idaho Territory. I can’t find anything especially dramatic about the signing, though wouldn’t we all like to have been a fly on the wall of [...]
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