MONTANA FROM A-Z

A IS FOR AGRICULTURE, AMISH, & ARCHEOLOGY

• Montana provides information about AGRICULTURE in the state. A diverse climate and fertile soil helps Montana farmers and ranchers produce a wide variety of agricultural products. Beef and wheat are the 2 largest commodities. Montana is 2nd in the country in the production of drum wheat, winter peas, and flaxseed. The goal of the Montana Department of Agriculture is to protect, enhance, and develop all agriculture in the state. The Montana Agricultural Statistical Service, the National Agriculture Statistic Service, and Agriculture in the Classroom provide information about agriculture. The State Soil is Montana-Scoby. Montana has many 4-H Clubs and chapters of Future Farmers of America

• The Amish way of life largely revolves around working and socializing together as a family and community. The Amish in Montana are returning to agriculture while continuing to work in the trades.

• Montana has ARCHAEOLOGY events for kids, families, and schools. The State Archaeology Program encourages recognition and preservation of archaeology sites and places of cultural importance in Montana. Wahka Chu'gn Archaeology Site is a 2,000 year old buffalo jump and has tours.

• Montana has BEACHES on lakes and reservoirs. White Fish Lake has sandy beaches. Black Sandy Beach has swimming areas and other activities.

• Over 400 species of BIRDS make their home in Montana ranging from tiny wrens to huge trumpeter swans. Nearly 200 birds have been sighted at the Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge. The State Bird is the Western Meadowlark. More golden eagles have been seen in a single day at the Rocky Mountain Front Eagle Migration Area than anywhere else in the country. Freeseout Lake Wildlife Management Area has thousands of snow geese and tundra swans during migration. It is possible to see over a thousand nesting pelicans at Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge.

• Montana has hundreds of BRIDGES and many are on the National Register of istoric places in the state. Some of the bridges are remaining Great Northern Railway Bridges. The Belton Bridge was opened in 1920 and reconstructed in 2004. The historic Snowden Lift Bridge is one of the few bridges in the country to accommodate both rail and vehicular traffic. The Fairview Bridge is on the National Register of Historic Places. Lewis and Clark County has nearly all types of historic bridges present in the state including the Lewis and Clark Bridge which is a historical monument. Darby has a Foot Bridge. The Mackin Bridge Construction Company has been building bridges in Montana for 80 years.

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• Montana has several scenic BYWAYS and Loop Tours. The Going-to-the-Sun Highway in Glacier Park is considered one of the most scenic drives in the country. The state also has a variety of Trails and participates in National Trails Day. The Bozeman Trail split off from the Oregon Trail, and Bozeman Trail Days are held each year. Montana has several Roadside Attractions.

• Helena is the State Capital of Montana. Miles City is known as the Cowboy Capital. West Yellowstone is known as tha Snomobile Capital of the World.

• Montana has all forms of COMMUNICATION including newspapers, radio, television, internet, and telephone. The area code for the entire state is 406. Most businesses and schools are connected to the internet, and Internet Service Providers are located throughout the state. Webcams are located throughout the state.

• Montana has 56 COUNTIES and 46 are considered "frontier counties". Beaverhead is the largest county and Silver Bow is the smallest. Yellowstone County has the largest population and Petroleum County has the smallest. Billings is the largest city and Ismay is the smallest.

• Montana has over a dozen DAMS including Hydroelectric Dams which are an important source of energy. Hungry Horse Dam is one of the highest dams and has one of the largest reservoirs in the country. Libby Dam created Lake Koocanusa which is one of the largest reservoirs in the country. Yellowtail Dam has a visitors center and a weather station. Fort Peck Dam backed up the Missouri River to create Fort Peck Lake. Canals were originally constructed to meet the needs of farmers. The Water Project Bureau maintains and operates state-owned water projects. Other sources of energy include Coal and Solar Power. Some Geothermal Power is being used and Wind Power is being investigated.

• Millions of years ago Montana was a giant swamp and home to DINOSAURS and the fossils of dinosaurs have been found throughout the state. A record 8 specimens of Tyranosaurus Rex have been discovered at the Hell Creek Project Dinosaur Dig in Northeastern Montana. Dinosaur Hunting is a popular pasttime. The State Dinosaur is the Maiasaura peeblesorum. Many fossils have been found in Montana, and the State Fossil is the Duck-billed Dinosau. Dinosaur eggs have been discoverd at Egg Mountain. of Montana.

• Montana is one of the most seismically active states and has had a number of EARTHQUAKES mostly in the western part of the state. The first significant earthquake occured in 1925. The largest earthquake occured in 1959 at Heben Lake which caused a landslide and created a dam on the Madison River which resulted in the formation of a lake known as Quake Lake. The USGS has a special page for kids about earthquakes

• Public EDUCATION is free, and The Montana Department of Public Instruction oversees education in the state. Montana requires that a child attend school from age 7-16 or completion of work in the 8th grade. The state has public, private, and special schools, and many of the school have webpages. Information about schools is provided by SchoolBug and GreatSchools.

• Montana has a variety of EVENTS and Festivals throughout the year. The Western Montana Fair is held in Missoula. The Montana Gaelic Cultural Society promotes Gaelic culture in the state and hosts an Irish Festival. Miles City Community College has a Highland Festival, and Billings has a Highland Picnic. Red Lodge hosts a 9-day Festival of Nations honoring its cultural and ethnic origins. The state observes Public Holidays and celebrates other special days.

• The Montana State Flag displays the name of the state in large gold letters agains a blue background. Below the name is the State Seal which shows mountains and the Great Falls of Missouri River. Below them are a plow, shovel, and pick which represent farming and mining. Some counties, cities, and tribes have their own flag.

• Montana has FOOD Festivals, Shows, and Events. The state has a rich heritage of foods brought by various ethnic groups. sugar beets are grown in Montana and are second only to sugar cane for sources of sugar. Buffalo roam the plains of Montana and a unique food is Buffalo meat. The Montana Food Bankstrives to meet the nutritional needs of the hungry and homeless in the state.

• Montana has 10 National FORESTS and 7 State Forests. Over 22.5 million acres of the state is forest land. The Forestry Department is responsible for planning and implementing forest programs in the state.

• Before western Montana was obtained from Great Britain in the Oregon Treaty of 1846, American trading posts and FORTS had been established in the territory. Fort Benton is known as the birthplace of Montana and is a National Historic Landmark. Other forts include Fort C.F. Smith, and Fort Phil Kearny which is a State Historic Site. Eastern Montana has several historic forts including Fort Buford. Fort Hudson Bay Trading Post is the oldest existing structure in the state.

• Montana has a variety of GEOLOGY. Montana State University provides geological maps of the state. The Montana Bureau of Minerals and Geology provides information about the geological, mineral, energy, and water resources in the state. The Badlands is a unique geological formation in the southeast corner of the state.

• Montana has over 50 GHOST TOWNS. Many ruins remain at Zortman. Mammoth has a few original buildings. Garnet has many building and mining remants. Glendale has a smelter stack and a few buildings. Bannack was the first territorial capital of Montana. It has been preserved as a ghost town state park and has more than 50 buildings including houses, a church, and the 1st jail in the state.

• The GLOBAL POSTION of Montana is approximately 44-49 degrees north and 104-116 degrees west. Fergus is the geographic center of the state. Granite Peak is the highest point and the Kootenai River is the lowest. Geocaching is a high tech game using a Global Positioning System, and there are geocaches throughout Montana. NOAA provides information about the topography of Montana. The place where the mountains rise from the plains is called Rocky Mountain Front.

• Montana has HISTORIC SITES and interpretive centers. The state has a Historic Preservation Planning Program and The National Trust helps protect historic places. Rosebud Battlefield State Park is on the National Register of Historic Places. Grant-Kors Ranch is a National Historic Site. Another National Historic Landmark is Pompey's Pillar where Captain Clark carved his name - one of the only physical evidences of Lewis & Clark in Montana

• The HISTORY of human occupation of Montana can be traced back 13,000 years to the Paleo Indians, the Clovi, and the Folsom cultures. Excavations at Pictograph Cave in the late 1930s and 1940s showed continual habitation for at least 5,000 years. Their descendants formed groups called tribes or clans who became known as Native Americans. Lewis and Clark played an important part in the exploration of Montana. Montana participates in National History Day.

• Montana has a variety of INDUSTRIES including agriculture, tourism, timber, mining, and technology. Agriculture is the largest industry and Tourism is the second largest.

• Montana has a variety of INSECTS including ticks and mosquitos, and several species of butterflies and spiders. The State Butterfly is the Mourning Cloak. During the past, the plains region has been devastated by the Rocky Mountain Locust. Grasshoper Glacier in Glacier National Park contains the frozen remains of millions of now extinct grasshopper species.

• Montana has ISLANDS on rivers and in lakes. Lake County has 13 islands including Wildhorse Island which is a state park and refuge for bald eagles and bighorn sheep . York Islands have campgrounds and activities.

J IS FOR JAZZ

• JAZZ is popular in Montana, and Jazz Festivals are held in Helena and Butte. Missoula hosts an International Chorale Festival. Helena and Billings have Music Festivals. Most cities in Montana have orchestras and centers for Performing Arts. A Symphony Orchestra and Chorale and Rimrock Opera Company are in Billings. There is a Music Camp at Flathead Lake.

• Montana has KARST and caves, and a Field Trip of them is offered. The Karst Waters Institute provides information about Karst. Montana has carbonate-rock aquifers. The National Park System has a Cave and Karst Program. The Lewis and Clark Caverns is the first and best known State Park and has guided tours. Pictograph Cave is a State Park. The National Speloeological Society has a chapter in Montana.

• Many aspects of life in Montana focus on KIDS. The state has information and activities For Kids. Three Forks has a Kids Program about flying.

• Montana has hundreds of natural and manmade LAKES. Glacier National Park has 250 lakes within its boundaries. Flathead Lake is considered the largest natural freshwater lake in the West. Iceberg Lake is the 3rd largest manmade resorvoir in the world.

• Public LIBRARIES are located throughout Montana. The State Library is in Helena. Each year a Book Festival is held in Missoula. The Montana State University Library has significant collections on General Custer and the Battle of the Bighorn

• Montana has several MILITARY installations. Fort Harrison in Helena is a major army training center. Fighter Wing (ANG) and Malmstrom Air Force Base are in in Great Falls. Missile Silos are located throughout the state. There is a Vietnam Veterans' Memorial and a Korean Veterans' Memorial in Missoula. The Army Corps of Engineers has projects in Montana and National Guard units.

• Montana has a wide variety of MINERALS, and much of the early history of the state involved mining. Gold and copper are the most valuable non-fuel minerals in the state. The largest gold mine is located near Whitehall. Stillwater County has the only mine in the country that produces platinum and palladium. The largest lead smelter in the world is in East Helena. Butte is the center of the area that once supplied half of the copper in the country. Several gemstones are found in the state. The State Gems are the Sapphire and the Montana Agate. The Montana Yogo Sapphire is the only North American gem to be included in the Crown Jewels of England . The Spokane Bar Sapphire Mine offer visitors an opportunity to dig for sapphires. Minerals Management Bureau is responsible for leasing, permitting, and managing minerals in Montana.

• Montana has many MOUNTAINS and more than 50 Mountain Ranges including Anaconda, Bitterroot, Salish, Gallitin, and Flathead. Some of them are covered with snow most of the year.

• A variety of MUSEUMS are located throughout Montana. The North American Wildlife Museum features nearly 100 exhibits. The World Museum of Mining is in Butte. The Museum of the Plains Indian and Craft Center in Browning has historic collections. The Mineral Museum has displays of minerals from Montana and around the world.

• Montana was created out of the Idaho Territory in 1864, and the NAME is based on the Latin word "mountaanus" which means mountainous. The state nickname is Big Sky Country in reference to the unobstructed skyline. Other nicknames have included The Treasure State because many mineral, The Bonanza State in reference to the many "bonanza" mines, Land of Shining Mountains in reference to mineral wealth, Mountain State because of the mountains, The Stubtoe State, in reference to mountainous terrain, and The Headwaters State because much of the water which flows to the rest of the country comes from the mountains of Montana. It has also been called "The Bandlands". The state is sometimes called America's Outback for the upper Great Plains and Northern Rocky Mountains. Ekalaka was named for the daughter of the famous Sioux Chief, Sitting Bull.

• The first NATIVE AMERICANS to inhabit Montana were the Plains Indians. The state has 11 Tribes and 7 reservatons. Montana also has a number of reservation-less or "landless" Indians, primarily the Little Shell Band and the Chippewa-Cree. The state celebrates North American Indian Days, and over a dozen powwows are held each year. Montana has 6 Indian Casinos. On the Flathead Reservation, buffalo roam a 20,000 acre National Wildlife Refuge.

• The Blue Mountain OBSERVATORY at the University of Montana has public observing nights. Taylor Planetarium at the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman has shows, exhibits, and activities for children. Starlab Planetarium at the University of Montana has programs for all ages. There are several Astronomy Clubs in Montana. The Neuman Astronomical Club celebrages Astronomy Day in the spring.

• Montana is part of the OLD WEST. Virginia City is an Old West Victorian Mining Town. The Charles M. Russell Museum Complex in Great falls has brush and scultures of the Old West.

• Montana has many PARKS including National Parks and State Parks and county parks. Yellowstone was the first National Park in the country. NASA provides visible and infrared images of geothermal features found there. Glacier National Park is the most visited place in Montana and is known as the crown jewel of the continent. It adjoins Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada forming the first International Peace Park in the world and is a World Heritage site. Montana also has 110 State Parks and Recreation areas. Makoshita State Park has unusual pillars and buttes formed by wind and water. At Medicine Rocks State Park, wind has carved holes and tunnels through hugh rocks. Beaver Creek Park is the largest county park in the country.

• Montana has a POPULATION of over 900,000 people. Famous people include authors, actors, actresses, and politicians. Hutterites live in tightlky knot communities and are known for their strong traditions.

• The United States Mint issued a QUARTER for each state in the order in which it became part of the Union. Montana became a State in 1889 and a quarter was issued for it in the year 2007. The U.S. Mint has a special Kids Page.

• Montana has several QUILTING Guilds. The Montana Association of Weavers and Spinners promotes interest, preserving, and learning about fiber arts.

• Take a map QUIZ about Montana. Do some activities about Montana - coloring book, puzzles, and more.

• Mountana is made up of 6 REGIONS - Northwest, Southwest, North Central, South Central, Northeast, and Southeast. The Great Plains covers 3/5 of Montana, and the state is part of the Mountain-Prairie Region.

• Montana has nearly 3 dozen species of REPTILES and amphibians including the poisonous Western Rattleshake. Five amphibian species and three reptile species were seen during a 1996 survey including Tiger Salamander, Western Chorus Frog. Woodhouse's Toad, Great Plains Toad, Northern Leopard Frog, Painted Turtle, Common Garter Snake, and Plains Garter Snake. Other species were Western Hognose, Racer, and Gopher Snakes. Wetland surveys included Plains Spadefoot and Western Terrestrial Garter Snake. Montana is part of the North American Amphibian Monitoring Program
• Montana has many RIVERS. The Yellowstone River is the longest free-flowing river in the continental United States. The Roe River is one of the shortest rivers in the world. The rivers in Montana provide water for 3 oceans and 3 of the major rivers of the North American continents. The state has 2 wild and scenic rivers - Flathead and Missouri. Fishing is a popular activity and the Blackspotted Cutthroat Trout is the State Fish. The Montana Fishing Guide provides information about places to fish.

• The State Song is "Montana". The State Ballad is "Montana Melody">

• All forms of SPORTS are played in Montana. Skiing is a popular sport and there are many ski resorts. The first luge run in North America was built at Logo Hot Springs. The High Altitude Sports Center in Butte is the National Training site for the United States speed-skating team. Montana has had many famous Sports Figures.

• Montana has many forms of TRANSPORTATION including 130 public and private airports. Passenger trains serve 10 cities along the H-Line.The Department of Transportation oversees all aspects of transportation in the state. The Federal Highway Administration provides information about traffic and road closures in the stte. A variety of License Plates are available including standard, specialty, and organization. Montana has an Adopt-a-Highway Program. To celebrate its birthday in 2002 Matchbox Cars issued a vehicle for each state. The vehicle for Montana was the Ford Bronco II.

• Montana has 91 species of TREES including many Champion Trees and Trophy Trees. The State Tree is the Ponderosa Pine. The state has conservation trees and shrubs. The Montana Tree Farm Program promotes the growing of renewable forest resources.

• Montana has UNIVERSITIES, colleges, and technical schools. The University of Montana has several campuses and is among the top 10 colleges in the country for combining academic quality and outdoor recreation. Montana State University in Bozeman was ranked #5 in a list of 40 best college towns. Montana is the only state with a tribally controlled college on each of its reservations.

• Three ships of the United States Navy have been named USS Montana. The 1st USS Montana (ACR-13), a Tennessee-class armored cruiser, provided convoy escort duty during World War I, and was eventually renamed and reclassified Missoula (CA-13). The 2nd USS Montana (BB-51) was a South Dakota-class battlship but scrapped before launching. The 3rd USS Montana (BB-67) would have been the lead ship of her class of battleship had the class not been cancelled.

• Montana has a wide variety of VEGETATION and is part of the National Park Vegetation Mapping Program. More than 2,000 species of wildflowers and other plants grow in Montana. The State Flower and State Floral Emblem is the Bitterroot. The State Grass is the Bluebunch Wheatgrass. Water Howellia and Ladies-Tresses are endangered plants. Bear Grass blooms only once every 7 years. Several fire resistant plants have adopted to Montana. The Nature Conservancy helps preserve the land in Montana.

• Montana does not have any active VOLCANOS, but there have been several eruptions in the past. An Observatory has been set up in Yellowstone to monitor volcanic activity.

• Montana has many WATERFALLS including many in Glacier National Park. Great Falls has 5 waterfalls. Beaver Chief Falls, Blackwell Falls, and Bird Woman Falls are among the tallest in the world.

• The beauty of the WEATHER in Montana is that whether it is hot or cold, Montana is dry, and therefore, neither oppressively hot nor oppressively cold. Average annual precipitation is 15 inches. Cold spells are frequently interrupted by Chinook winds (warm winds) and mild periods. NOAA has information and activities about the weather. The state holds the world record for the greatest temperature change in 24 hours -100 degrees. The Environmental Protection Agency provides information about how Global Warming would effect Montana.

• Montana has many species of WILDLIFE. Big game animals include American Elk, mule deer, black bear, mountain lion, and bobcat. Smaller animals include beaver, mink, wolf, squiirrel, porcupine, and muskskrat. Other animals include the largest migratory elk herd in the country and the pronghorn antelope which is the fastest animal in North America. Montana has the largest Grizzly Bear population in the lower 48 states, and it is the State Animal. The state has many National Wildlife Refuges and a National Bison range. The Bob Marshall Wilderness Area is one of the oldest in the country. Big Sky Wildcare Raptor Rehabiliation Center rehabilitates wild animals. Montana is part of the Wildlife Protection Program. The Fish and Wildlife Service works to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats in Montana.The state has 14 endangered species.

• XMAS is the abbreviation for Christmas which is celebrated in Montana much as it is in the rest of the country and around the world. In 2008 Montana provided the Christmas tree for the United States Capitol. Montana has many places where you can cut your own Christmas tree.

• YMCA organizations are located throughout Montana. There are also Girl Scouts including 5 summer camps, and Boy Scouts including 6 summer camps.

• YOUTH HOSTELS are located throughout Montana. There are also 36 Elderhostel Programs.

• The use of postal ZIP CODES began in 1963. Zip codes in Montana start with the number 59. The mailing code is MT.

• Montana is in the Mountain time ZONE. Montana is in the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 3A to 5B.

• Montana has several ZOOS and nature centers.

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