Bert Carlstrom 
Monday was cold and cloudy. Falling snow kept threatening to turn into a snowstorm, then stopping, then threatening again. Clouds obscured the hills and mountains. It was a perfect day, in short, to drive a Ford Taurus with questionable brakes up a forest service road in search the most elusive of quarries—a perfect Christmas tree. … Read more
The Glacier National Park DVD has been one of our favorite projects to work on. It combines two of our favorite things: spectacular Montana scenery and incredible digital imagery. Now through December 31, you can purchase the Blu-Ray/DVD combo pack for just $19.99. I don’t know about you, but I think it would make a … Read more
It’s fitting that one of Montana’s best-known artists got his start in a welding class. Jim Dolan, whose larger-than-life metal sculptures are scattered across the state, came to Montana to pursue a degree in agriculture from Montana State University. He chanced upon sculpting during a welding class—creating small pieces out of scrap metal and nails. … Read more
“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!” This is a much different post than the one I thought I was going to write. I thought that I was going to write about … Read more
Ranchers are the same everywhere. In 2009, the Montana Stock Growers Association (MSGA) celebrated its 125th anniversary, and were looking for a way to commemorate the event. An obvious answer came to mind. Linda Grosslopf and Nancy Morrison compiled a book featuring 142 ranching families that have been ranching in Montana for over 100 years. … Read more
Editor’s Note: These are the kind of posts that happen when you turn a history major loose in a museum. These posts were inspired by, and draw heavily on, an exhibit at the Montana Historical Society in Helena. Neither Empty Nor Unknown is an incredible exhibit that examines what life in Montana looked like during … Read more
Editor’s Note: These are the kind of posts that happen when you turn a history major loose in a museum. These posts were inspired by, and draw heavily on, an exhibit at the Montana Historical Society in Helena. Neither Empty Nor Unknown is an incredible exhibit that examines what life in Montana looked like during … Read more
Neither Empty Nor Unknown Editor’s Note: These are the kind of posts that happen when you turn a history major loose in a museum. These posts were inspired by, and draw heavily on, an exhibit at the Montana Historical Society in Helena. Neither Empty Nor Unknown is an incredible exhibit that examines what life in … Read more
In July of 1864, four down-on-their-luck prospectors chanced across gold in the Prickly Pear Valley, a wide, peopleless valley just east of the Continental Divide. By October, that same stretch of barren gulch was a virtual metropolis, teaming with miners, merchants, and prostitutes. The region’s citizens realized that they needed to turn their mining camp … Read more
The Montana Constitution of 1972 recognizes the importance to protect Montana’s unique Indian heritage through education. Yet I (along with most people I know) managed to escape high school with next to no understanding of Montana’s twelve Indian tribes. The 1972 Constitution was little more than words. Teachers were left to their own devices as … Read more
