Open Travel Guide
History of Montana

Montana History & Heritage Guide 2026

The history of Montana told through its places: sites worth the detour and the context they need.

By Updated

Montana has 6+ historical sites covered in this guide, led by Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, Bannack State Park (Ghost Town) and Pompeys Pillar National Monument. Each entry below includes the practical details — what it costs, when to go, and how to plan around it.

Montana is a vast, wild northwestern US state nicknamed 'Big Sky Country' for its sweeping vistas and dramatic open landscapes. From Glacier National Park's jagged peaks to the rolling prairies of the Great Plains and the geothermal wonders of Yellowstone's northern reaches, Montana rewards visitors with breathtaking scenery, world-class outdoor adventure, and a deeply authentic frontier culture.

Historical timeline

Key moments that shaped Montana.

  1. 1

    Lewis and Clark Expedition traverses Montana

    1804–1806
  2. 2

    Gold discovered at Grasshopper Creek; Bannack founded

    1862
  3. 3

    Montana Territory established; Virginia City becomes capital

    1864
  4. 4

    Battle of Little Bighorn — Custer's Last Stand

    1876
  5. 5

    Northern Pacific Railroad reaches Billings

    1881
  6. 6

    Montana achieves statehood (41st state, November 8)

    1889
  7. 7

    Glacier National Park established

    1910
  8. 8

    Fort Peck Dam completed — largest hydraulic fill dam in the world

    1936
  9. 9

    Yellowstone fires burn over 1 million acres including Montana sections

    1988

Historical sites

Places where Montana's past comes alive.

American frontier / Indian Wars (1865–1890)

Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument

Where: Crow Agency

Admission: $25/vehicle, $15/person (USD); America the Beautiful pass accepted
American frontier / gold rush (1860s–1880s)

Bannack State Park (Ghost Town)

Where: Dillon

Admission: $8/vehicle non-residents, $4/residents (USD)
American exploration / early republic (1800s)

Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Where: Pompeys Pillar

Admission: $7/vehicle (USD)
Montana Territory to statehood (1860s–1900s, with prehistoric to present range)

Montana Historical Society Museum

Where: Helena

Admission: $5/adult, $3/senior/student (USD)
American West frontier / open-range era (1880s–1920s)

C.M. Russell Museum

Where: Great Falls

Admission: $9/adult, $5/student (USD)
Prehistoric / Paleoindian to Late Pre-contact (10,000 BCE–c. 1800 CE)

Pictograph Cave State Park

Where: Billings

Admission: $8/vehicle non-residents (USD)

Museums

Curated collections that tell Montana's story.

Museum

Museum of the Rockies — Dinosaur Hall

Hours: Daily 9am–5pm (summer); Tue–Sun 9am–5pm (off-season)

Admission: $14.50/adult, $9.50/child 5–17 (USD)

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