October 2023
Rachel Phillips
On Sunday, March 3, 1889, a report of a most disturbing nature reached Bozeman authorities: a deceased woman was found at a homestead southwest of Bozeman. The Bozeman Courier reported on March 7, “... startling news was brought to the city…
October 2023
Liz Bischoff
The stories of our community’s past have a way of walking alongside us. We see these stories in the shadows when they are twisted and turned, like strangling vines curling up an old oak; we see these stories in the mirror when we find we are…
September 2023
Rachel Phillips
Bozeman is, and was, a dog-loving community. For centuries before the town even existed, dogs were essential helpmates and companions to Native people living, hunting, and passing through the Gallatin Valley. More recently, when farms and ranches…
September 2023
Steve McGann
“... And then the lights of Bozeman – the broad main street ablaze with power of brightness and abundant light...”
The above quote comes from an odd little book; almost without sentences, it’s just daubs of phrases strung…
August 2023
Rachel Phillips
Occasionally, people embark on a rewarding, life-long career that was never part of their original plan. Educators like Margaret “Bessie” Gee fall into this category. Bessie was born in 1900 to Maude Morgan and Hugo John Gee on the family…
August 2023
Ken Walcheck
To Meriwether Lewis, Esquire…. “The object of your mission is to explore the Missouri river, and such principle streams of it, as, by its course and communication with the waters of the Pacific ocean, whether the Columbia, Oregan (sic)…
August 2023
Steve McGann
A well-known criminal was once asked why he robbed banks. He replied, “That’s where they keep the money.” My answer to why I spend so much time in libraries is similar; they are full of books. One of my best childhood memories is…
July 2023
Rachel Phillips
The Gallatin History Museum research library contains thousands of family history files, photographs, records, newspapers, and books that pertain to the history of Gallatin County and southwest Montana. One of these books, Gallatin Century of…
June 2023
Ken Walcheck
The Missouri River, viewed by The Corps of Discovery as their flotilla entered Montana on April 27, 1805, was truly pristine and colorful, a great snag-toothed, twisting ribbon of water running free and wild as it surged through game-rich, verdant…
June 2023
Rachel Phillips
“The following pages contain a list of all parties bringing squirrels to this office with the date, total number of squirrels and names of witnesses.” ~ Charles A. Carson, Probate Judge
Among dozens of nineteenth and early twentieth…