The state of Montana unfolds as a vast tapestry of rugged wilderness and breathtaking landscapes in the heart of the American West. Renowned for its sweeping expanses, Montana stands as a geographical marvel that encompasses majestic mountains, pristine lakes, and wide-open plains. Home to iconic national parks like Glacier and a sliver of Yellowstone, the state invites adventurers to traverse its diverse terrain, where cascading waterfalls, dense forests, and the remnants of historic mining towns provide a captivating backdrop. Beyond its natural wonders, Montana resonates with a rich cultural heritage, from Native American traditions to the cowboy legacy of the Old West. With cities like Bozeman and Missoula exuding a blend of youthful vibrancy and outdoor allure, Montana beckons those seeking an authentic connection with nature and a profound journey through the pages of American history. Continuing our series of 50 Nifty States — From Delaware to Hawaii and Idaho to Missouri — here are 44 facts about Montana.

What is Montana known for?

1. Big Sky Country! Montana is affectionately known as this because of the state’s vast open skies and expansive panoramic views that enchant all who visit. The name supposedly comes from a 1947 book titled The Big Sky by the Pulitzer winner A.B. Guthrie Jr. — who also wrote the Academy Award-nominated screenplay for the classic American western Shane.

2. The Treasure State! It’s another unofficial nickname Montana is known by, thanks to its abundance of natural mining resources and multiple gold rushes beginning 1852. Mining operations were established all over Montana in towns like Virginia City and Butte as silver, copper, zinc, sapphire, manganese, oil, coal, and lead were discovered in addition to gold.

3. Bison! If there is one animal that you might associate with Montana, it’s the bison. Unfortunately, these poor bastards have significantly perished. Despite a population of around 13 million in Montana alone in 1870, only 5,000 or so are still present in Montana — and none of them wild.

Early History of Montana Facts

4. Before white people came alone to colonize, Native American tribes like the Chippewa, Crow, Blackfeet, Assiniboine, and Kootenai occupied present-day Montana.

5. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark passed through what is now Montana on their way to the Pacific Ocean in 1805 during the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition that explored the untamed and wild American frontier.

6. Manuel Lisa established Fort Raymond, the first permanent European settlement in Montana near the mouth of Yellowstone River and Bighorn River in 1807.

7. In 1833, John Jacob Astor — whose name has been imprinted across America from Astoria, Queens, New York City to Astoria, Oregon — led the American Fur Company that established the Fort Union Trading Post near the border of North Dakota.

8. Helena became the new capital Montana in 1866, after temporary capital-ships in Virginia City in 1865 and Bannack in 1864.

9. Custer’s very famous Last Stand — also known as The Battle of Little Bighorn — took place in Big Horn County, Montana in 1876, where Native American tribes successfully resisted the U.S. Army and became a symbol of resistance. The losing battle was particularly instrumental in influencing U.S. Indian policy and justifying the further imperialisation of the American West. 

10. On November 8, 1889, Montana became the 41st state in the United States.

What Famous People were born in Montana?

11. Zen Master Hall-of-Fame NBA coach Phil Jackson — who coached Michael Jordan and friends to six (6) NBA championships — was born in Deer Lodge, Montana.

12. Gary Cooper — the strong, silent type actor who won an Oscar for his performance in High Noon in 1952, was born near Helena, Montana in 1901.

13. Michelle Williams is one of the best American actors working today, scoring Oscar nominations for Brokeback Mountain (2006), Blue Valentine (2011), and Manchester by the Sea (2017), among others. She was born in Kalispell, Montana in 1980.

14. Journalist, social critic, writer, and activist Barbara Ehrenreich, author of notable works like Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By In America (2001), was born in Butte, Montana in 1941.

Click on the cover to buy Barbara Ehrenreich’s Nickel and Dimed

15. David Lynch is one of the best American filmmakers working today, and film critic Pauline Kael described him as our “first populist surrealist.” He has been nominated for the Oscar for Best Director for Mulholland Drive (2002) and Blue Velvet (1987), as well as several Emmy nominations for his Twin Peaks series in 1990 and 2018. He was born in Missoula in 1946.

Topography & Geography of Montana

16. Flathead Lake is considered one of the cleanest lakes in the whole world and it’s the largest natural body of freshwater you will find in the western United States. Located near Kalispell, Montana, the lake covers about 197 square miles of land.

17. At 147,040 total square miles, Montana is the 4th-largest state out of the 50 Nifty.

18. Montana borders Canada to the north, Idaho to the west, Wyoming to the south, and North Dakota and South Dakota to the east.

19. Billings, Montana is the largest city in the state, and Montana’s capital is Helena.

20. There are 56 counties in Montana! Neat, huh?

21. Want to take a scenic drive across Montana state? It’s 255 miles from north to south, and 630 miles from east to west.

22. Montana is pretty elevated. The highest point is Granite Peak at 12,807 feet above sea level.

23. The lowest point in Montana is the Kootenai River at the border of Idaho.

What are the State Symbols of Montana?

24. The terrific Mark Gibbons was named Montana’s poet laureate in 2021, and deservedly so. The state native has authored 11 volumes of poetry and has been a staunch supporter and advocate of poetry all over the state for decades.

Click on the book to buy Connemara Moonshine — poems by Mark Gibbons

25. The Montana state flag! It was officially adopted in 1904.

26. There is an official state cowboy hall of fame of Montana, and it’s the Cowboy Hall of Fame & Western Heritage Center in Great Falls. Designated as such in 2003, the center focuses on the culture and heritage of Montana, as well as the state’s relationship to the American West and its inhabitants, both Natives and settlers.

27. The Ponderosa pine tree can be found far and wide all over western North America and is actually the most widely-distributed species of pine trees on the whole continent — including Montana, who declared it their official state tree in 1949.

28. The largest carnivores in America, grizzly bears can be found in northwestern Montana, albeit with less frequency these days. Although the population seems to be in recovery and back on the upswing, there aren’t more than 1,700 grizzly bears in the lower 48 United States. In 1983, the state of Montana made the grizzly bear the official state animal. California also features the grizzly bear as a state symbol.

29. The duck-billed dinosaur was designated the official state fossil of Montana in 1985, thanks to some imaginative six-graders in Livingston, Montana. The Maiasaura peeblesorum is particularly notable for having only been found in Montana.

30. Oro y plata is Spanish for “gold and silver,” and it’s also the official state motto of Montana and appears on the state flag and state seal.

31. The official state fish of Montana is the black-spotted cutthroat trout. Enacted as such in 1977, these guys were first noted in the journals of William Clark, he of the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition. Unfortunately, habitat destruction has made it a species of concern in Montana and even threatened in Canada.

32. The Western Meadowlark became the official state bird of Montana way way back in 1931. It’s also a state symbol for Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, and Wyoming.

Where should I visit in Montana?

33. Glacier National Park, located along the Canadian border, is a stunningly beautiful and ecologically diverse national park. Encompassing over a million acres of pristine wilderness, the park is known for its rugged mountains, glacial-carved valleys, pristine lakes, and abundant wildlife. A visit to Glacier National Park promises not just breathtaking scenery but also an immersive experience in a pristine wilderness that reflects the natural beauty of the American Rocky Mountains.

34. The Garden of One Thousand Buddhas in Arlee, Montana, stands as a symbol of peace and spiritual unity. Nestled within the Ewam Sang-ngag Ling retreat center, this contemplative haven features a central Amitabha Buddha statue surrounded by one thousand smaller Buddhas, arranged in a mandala pattern. Symbolizing completeness and compassion, the garden is open to people of all backgrounds, fostering cultural exchange and understanding. Against the backdrop of the Mission Mountains, visitors can engage in meditation, prayer, and community events, making it a tranquil and inclusive space that transcends cultural boundaries. 

35. The Pekin Noodle Parlor is considered the oldest continually family-operated Chinese restaurant in America, and it’s located in Butte, Montana. Built in 1909 by the Tam family who emigrated to Montana in the 1860s, the restaurant’s century of rich history was recognized as an American Classic by the James Beard Foundation. 

36. The Miracle of America Museum is located in Polson, Montana, and has been called the Smithsonian of the West. The collection is so epic and extensive that its wares are housed across 35 buildings on the land. Dozens of unique vehicles are on display here, from yesteryear’s horse-drawn carriages to vintage bicycles and century-old automobiles, but that’s not even the half their 340,000+ artifacts. As random a smattering of American ephemera as one can find, there is truly something for everyone here.  

37. The American Computer & Robotics Museum in Bozeman, Montana is dedicated to preserving and displaying the history of the computer — which surprisingly goes back 20,000 years. More than 1,000 items are on view, including vintage calculators and slide rules, early mechanical and electronic toys, and original Apple I models. It’s every nerd’s paradise. 

38. You can find the Chico Hot Springs Giant Chicken located near an isolated hiking path about a half hour north of Yellowstone National Park in Pray, Montana. Standing at a formidable 9 feet tall, the presence of the brightly-painted bird is mysterious, as there are no markers or plaques that tell its story, and the statue is obscured by the surrounding hills. 

Fun, Cool, Interesting & Weird Montana Facts

39. The largest Tyrannosaurus rex skull was discovered at the Hell Creek Formation in the northeastern part of Montana in 2016 by two volunteers named Jason Love and Luke Tufts. The skull is now known as the Love-Tufts T. rex in dinosaur circles, and you can see it at the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, Montana.

40. Roe River near Great Falls, Montana is a mere 201 feet long, and is considered the shortest river in the world. There are other candidates for consideration, but it’s also contingent on what can be considered a river.

41. Montana is the only state where waters flow into three (3) different oceans: the Arctic Ocean (via the Hudson Bay), the Atlantic Ocean (via the Gulf of Mexico), and the Pacific Ocean.

42. The entire state of Montana falls within the Mountain Time Zone. The eastern border aligns with Central Time, while the western boundary corresponds to Pacific Time.

43. Great Falls, Montana in Cascade County has had more than 100 UFO sightings reported in its town — one of the most active locations for UFO sightings in all of North America.

44. The largest snowflake ever recorded was an astonishing 15 inches wide and 8 inches deep, and it fell in Fort Keogh, Montana on January 28, 1887.

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