In 1864, when Montana was recognized as a new frontier territory, the conflicting currents of western expansionism surged across a landscape glittering with gold, bristling with teepees and mining camps, and populated with outlaws and secessionists.
The Beacon is recognizing the 150th anniversary of Montana with several vignettes detailing moments in history that have helped shape this great state’s identity.
Montana an Enduring Monument to Pioneering Past
Region held immense promise while facing an uncertain future
BY TRISTAN SCOTT
Settlers and miners were drawn to the region’s potential for gold while the Lincoln administration, eager to secure it for the United States, recognized the influx of Confederate sympathizers, whose influence would prevent Montana from achieving statehood for another 25 years. READ MORE »»»
From Peaks to Plains, the Pressures of Western Expansionism
Montana’s territorial year marked the beginning of American Indians ceding sacred lands
BY TRISTAN SCOTT
In 1864, Native Americans populated both sides of the Continental Divide, while Lewis and Clark had come and gone as a blip on their radar, as had many of the mountain men and fur trappers. READ MORE »»»
Montana’s Iconic National Parks
Two of the nation’s first national parks, Yellowstone and Glacier, helped shape a new American ideal for preserving certain priceless places
BY DILLON TABISH
The U.S., it’s fair to say, was ahead of its time in 1872 when Congress passed an unprecedented order setting aside a tract of land near the headwaters of the Yellowstone River in the territories of Montana and Wyoming as a “public park or pleasuring-ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people.” READ MORE »»»
Kissed by Fire
Wildfire and Montana have been intertwined for centuries
BY JUSTIN FRANZ
Wildfire played a role on the Montana landscape long before President Abraham Lincoln agreed to make it a territory 150 years ago. READ MORE »»»
100 Years Later, Montana Stands Out as Champion for Women’s Suffrage
Thanks to advocates like Kalispell’s Emma Ingalls, Montana became one of the first states to give women the right to vote on Nov. 3, 1914
BY DILLON TABISH
In a watershed moment 100 years ago, on Nov. 3, 1914, Montana men decided to allow women to vote. The landmark decision split 53 percent in favor and 47 percent opposed and made Montana the 10th state in the U.S. to approve equal voting rights for non-native women, well before the ratification of the 19th Amendment in 1920. READ MORE »»»
The Greatest Generation
World War I and II and the Great Depression shaped the state
BY MOLLY PRIDDY
The early 20th century saw Montana as a young state, just over a decade old. Mines were booming, the state was discovering its identity, and a new century was brimming with potential. READ MORE »»»
Hell and High Water
The Flood of 1964 reigns as one of the worst natural disasters to ever strike the Treasure State
BY JUSTIN FRANZ
Floods have long signaled the coming of spring and summer in Montana. Every year people nervously watch the riverbanks. But regardless of how high the waters may rise, they rarely compete with the second week of June 1964. READ MORE »»»
Boom to Bust
From Butte to the Bakken, Montana has a rich history of boomtowns
BY MOLLY PRIDDY
Boomtowns are a major part of Montana’s history, having served as extremely powerful magnets for new settlers before the land was declared a state, or even a territory. READ MORE »»»