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© Copyright 1998, Jim Loy
In prehistory, the area now called Montana (along with Alberta) was the land of tyrannosaurus and brontosaurus, and numberless smaller dinosaurs. In the centuries before Columbus "discovered" America, many American Indians (also known as Native Americans), lived here (Cheyenne, Blackfoot, Crow, Assiniboin, Salish (Flathead), Kootenai, and Kalispel).
With the Louisiana Purchase, purchased from Napolean in 1803, the U. S. expanded into the eastern part of what would become Montana. Lewis and Clark traveled through Montana (up the Missouri River and over the mountains) in 1804, and returned through Montana in 1806. Fur trappers (and sometimes missionaries) visited Montana. In 1818, the northern border of this part of the U. S. was established at the 49th parallel. In 1846, the western part of Montana became part of Oregon Country, its border was also established at the 49th parallel. Later, western Montana became part of Oregon Territory, and later Washington Territory, and then Idaho Territory.
Settlers started moving into the area, by wagon train. There was cattle ranching and sheep ranching. Numerous treaties gained land from the Indians. Gold was discovered at Bannack in 1862. Numerous outlaws were hanged by vigilantes. Montana became a Territory in 1864, and Bannack was its first capital. Helena later became the capital. In 1870 Colonel Eugene Baker with 200 soldiers attacked a peaceful Blackfeet village, in retaliation for the murder of a white man by other Indians, and killed 173 men, women, and children. In 1872, Yellowstone Park became the first National Park, parts of it are in Montana. In the 1870's and 1880's, gold, silver, and copper mining, at Butte, became big business.
In 1876, Lt. Colonel (formerly Brigadier General) George Custer, and his 255 soldiers were killed, by Sioux (and Cheyenne) Indians led by Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull, at the battle of the Little Bighorn. The Sioux and Cheyenne were defeated in 1877. In 1877 the Nez Perce, led by Chief Joseph, were defeated. The Northern Pacific Railway crossed Montana in 1883. Montana became a state in 1889.
Charles M. Russell, of Great Falls, was a famous painter of western scenes and events. Wheat and timber became major industries.
In 1900, U. S. Senator, from Montana, William A. Clark (not the William E. Clark of Lewis & Clark fame) was not accepted in the Senate, because of supposedly being illegally elected. In 1910, Glacier National Park was established. In 1917, Jeannette Rankin, of Missoula, became the first woman to serve in the U. S. Congress. She voted against the declaration of war against Germany in 1917, and later cast the only vote against the declaration of war against Japan in 1941.
In 1932, Glacier National Park became part of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park (in Canada & the U. S.). In the 1940's, numerous hydro-electric dams were built. In 1959, Quake Lake was formed by an earthquake. In 1961, Mike Mansfield, of Montana, became the U. S. Senate Majority Leader.
Coal and tourism have become major industries.
Montana is the 4th largest state (behind Alaska, Texas, and California). It is the 44th most populous state (7th least populous). Montana is the Treasure State, and more recently it is called Big Sky Country. The state motto is "Oro y plata" (Gold and silver). The state flower is the bitterroot. The bird is the western meadowlark (which is the state bird of several other states). The tree is the ponderosa pine. Recently, the state fossil became the maiasaurus.
The state song, Montana, has perhaps the stupidest lyrics of any state song (in my opinion):
Montana, Montana, glory of the West,
Of all the states, from coast to coast, you're easily the best.
Montana, Montana, where skies are always blue,
M-O-N-T-A-N-A,
Montana, I love you.