Montana boasts an array of places for visitors to explore, from wild wildernesses and historic towns to Yellowstone National Park – the crown jewel of America’s national parks system.
Pompey’s Pillar offers an unforgettable glimpse into regional history. A natural sandstone formation featuring hundreds of inscriptions – including William Clark’s signature from 1806! – visitors can explore regional history while at Pompey’s Pillar. Also be sure to stop by Great Northern Railway Buildings for insight into one of Montana’s first forays into US tourism market.
Butte-Anaconda Historic District
Butte-Anaconda Historic District is one of Montana’s largest National Historic Landmark districts and highlights America’s long mining and laboring history.
Copper’s rise as an economic force was linked with rapid industrialization of America and labor’s response. Furthermore, this town’s rich history serves to highlight how essential copper remains as an asset to modern societies.
Pompeys Pillar is a large sandstone formation with petroglyphs, pictographs and historical engravings that is popular with history enthusiasts.
Going-to-the-Sun Road
Montana offers unforgettable views and experiences, none more so than Glacier National Park’s incredible Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park. This 50-mile engineering marvel, recognized as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, will leave you in awe.
This road’s name comes from an ancient Blackfeet legend which tells of an all-knowing deity who came down from heaven to teach young braves hunting techniques before returning back up into the skies. Oberlin Bend Overlook is one of the more notable stops along this journey.
Bannack Ghost Town
Montana boasts 28 National Historic Landmarks – buildings recognized by the federal government that represent important milestones and themes from American history – one being Bannack’s ghost town.
Once gold was discovered in Montana’s Grasshopper Creek, Montana’s capital city temporarily relocated here. You can visit its cemetery and gallows – one of which hosted one of the most significant criminal hangings.
Pictograph Cave State Park
Pictograph Cave State Park, one of the oldest sites on this list, boasts three caves where archaeologists conducted some of the first professional excavations in the region. Here you’ll find rock art dating back over 2,000 years from prehistoric hunters who camped here.
Pompey’s Pillar, an impressive sandstone formation featuring over 5 000 petroglyphs and pictographs, provides a scenic backdrop for these caves, making for an easy exploration trail from the visitor center.
Frederick Billings
Frederick Billings played an instrumental role in Montana and its history, having an impactful hand in creating the Northern Pacific Railroad and helping promote Western scenery as a tourist destination.
On his Woodstock estate, he created a model of scientific dairy farming and restored Mount Tom by planting hardy European tree species. Additionally, he endeavored to turn this area into a verdant forest park.
Belton Chalet
Belton Chalet was designed by Louis Hill as an alpine chalet-style hotel for year-round accommodation near West Glacier Village on Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park.
At the site of Custer’s defeat at the Battle of Little Bighorn, this historic monument commemorates those who fought and died here during the 19th century. As one of Montana’s most beloved landmarks, this iconic landmark remains popular today.
University of Montana
Visit Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site to get an impression of life for early Montana settlers during its tour that features a film and memorial boulders commemorating those lost during an 1862 earthquake that created Earthquake Lake.
Pompey’s Pillar, named for one of Lewis and Clark’s expedition members, can be found at Pictograph Cave State Park. This area boasts prehistoric rock art sites.
Roxy Theater
The Roxy Cinema opened for business in Forsyth on September 26, 1937 with the talkie “Three Smart Girls.”
The theater survived a fire in 1994, and then the International Wildlife Film Festival purchased and maintains it to this day.
Today, The Roxy Cinemas offer three screens with year-round calendar programming as well as cultural programming exclusively tailored for its patrons.
Garden of One Thousand Buddhas
The Garden of One Thousand Buddhas in Montana’s Jocko Valley is a spiritual sanctuary designed by Tulku Rinpoche as an international center of peace. The circular main section features rows arranged to resemble a Dharma wheel with each row containing 125 statues of Buddha.
The garden contains more than 1,000 stupas, taller stone structures that each house an image of Tara. Visitors spin prayer wheels to gain merit and good karma.
Missouri River
Montana’s history lives on at several historic sites that have been preserved over decades. Visit Pompey’s Pillar National Monument and witness over 5, 000 etchings, pictographs and petroglyphs on a 120-foot sandstone rock formation at Pompey’s Pillar.
Start off your tour at Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument – one of the US Cavalry’s greatest defeats took place there and a memorial boulder stands as a reminder. A tribute boulder honors those who gave their lives that day.
