Re: MtMan-List: Points of interest

[Clay Landry <Landry@wtp.net>]

At 04:42 PM 6/16/97 -0700, you wrote:

>
>	The whole point of this e-mail is points of interest on our honeymoon. 
>We are heading down interstate 90 to Billings MT north to see Snowbird
>on the mussleshell river then back down to Devils Tower WY, Deadwood SD,
>Mt Rushmore, Crazy horse MT, Chadron NE, Casper wy, then to cody WY, to
>Yellowstone Park, then home near Tacoma WA.  If there is any thing we
>should see please let me know it would be appreciated.  Later Jon Couple
>Bucks Towns 944.
>
>
>---------------------------------
Jon

Only a certifiable "history nut" would be concerned about seeing "points of
interest" while on his honey moon!! But, you asked, so here are some
suggestions. 
        1) 45 miles west of Bozeman Mt, and right on the interstate, is
Three Forks, MT. Two things to see here. Headwaters State park-the place
were the three rivers, Madison, Jefferson and Gallatin converge to form the
Missouri. Loads of fur trade historical happenings took place here-from
Lewis and Clark Camp to Lisa's Fort of 1810. Places to camp & picnic and a
great overlook which allows you to see all the rivers. Second thing is the
little local yokel museum in the town of Three Forks-only really one thing
in the whole museum as far the fur trade goes but it is a dandy-an
anvil-this anvil according to the museum records came from the site of
Lisa's 1810 fort located near the junction of the rivers. If their claim is
accurate this is one of the oldest known fur trade artifacts to have
survived. Look it over real good and let me know what you think. 
        2)Bozeman-Museum of the Rockies-lots of dinosaur exhibits, largest
collection of dinosaur eggs, also have exhibits on Indian material culture
and early Montana history.
        3) Valley of the Yellowstone River-once you travel east from Bozeman
Mt you cross a mountain pass(the same one used by the early fur men and
explorers) into the valley of the Yellowstone River. The interstate follows
along the River from Livingston Mt to Billings-and points beyond. Livingston
is located at the place referred to by the mountaineers as "the big
bend"-here the flow of the river takes a hard 90 degree turn and heads east.
Often used as a place for winter camp by Bridger's brigade and others.
Osborne Russell's "25 yard river", today called the Shields, is just east of
Livingston. Lots of references to this part of the Yellowstone country in
Osborne Russell's book.
        4) Big Timber MT-about half way between Bozeman and Billings and
just off the interstate is the Shilo Sharps factory-they have a great
display of the guns that they make and are real friendly folks.
        5)My diggings-some 40 miles before you get to Billings, and only 4
miles off the interstate, at Columbus MT, is my place. Our ranch sits at the
confluence of the Stillwater (called the Rosebud by Russell) and Yellowstone
rivers.  Good fishing, good food and lots of BS-we have a guest house if you
would like to stop, rest and visit.
        6) Park City Montana- site on the Yellowstone river of Bridger's
Feb 22, 1837 winter camp were the Blackfeet were spooked by an unusual
display of the Northern Lights and did not attack Bridger and the boys-a
detail account of this story is in Osborne Russell's book. 
        7) Billings Montana- a little ways south of Billings are the Pryor
Mountains, Wild Horse Range and the Canyon of the Clarks Fork of the
Yellowstone river-about 27 miles east of Billings is Pompey's Pillar
National Historic Landmark- which is a BLM park and is a large sandstone
rock on which Captain Meriwether Lewis inscribed his name and the date. 
        8) On your way to the Black Hills from Billings via highway 212 you
go right by the Little Bighorn National Battlefield-if you want to learn the
nuts and bolts of the Custer fight this is the place.

        Lots more "points of interest" on the route that you have
picked-give me a call when you get in the area.

        Have a great trip!
        
        Clay
        AMM 1412
Clay Landry
P.O. Box 1033
Columbus MT 59019
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