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Rachel Phillips

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Rachel Phillips is the Research Coordinator at the Gallatin History Museum in Bozeman. Visit the Gallatin History Museum at 317 W Main Street in Bozeman, www.gallatinhistorymuseum.org, or on Facebook.

Content By This Contributor:

Tue. Dec. 31st, 2019

Wires in the Sky: A Short History of Telephone Service in Bozeman

by Rachel Phillips

Today, nearly everyone has a telephone tucked into their pocket. These amazing machines are not only capable of making a phone call, but with the touch of a button they provide convenient access to online banking, social media, and…

Sat. Dec. 1st, 2018

A Chambers-Fisher Company Christmas

by Rachel Phillips

In November and December of 1955, the local newspapers were filled with large advertisements from Chambers-Fisher Company. Sometimes comprising an entire page, these ads featured illustrations of popular Christmas gifts and catchy phrases…

Mon. Oct. 1st, 2018

Doing Their Bit: Bozeman Women and WWI

by Rachel Phillips

This fall marks the one hundredth anniversary of the end of World War I. The Armistice was signed on November 11, 1918, bringing hope to millions that the misery and heartbreak of the Great War was nearly over. Though the United States was…

Wed. Aug. 1st, 2018

Wheeling & Dealing: Bozeman’s Car Dealerships of Yesterday

by Rachel Phillips

At the turn of the twentieth century, automobiles began puttering around Gallatin Valley roadways, their drivers bouncing up and down over rut-filled, unpaved streets. In 1905, Sam Mendenhall (future Bozeman City Manager and son of pioneer…

Thu. May. 31st, 2018

Calamity Jane Dries Out in Bozeman

by Rachel Phillips

Livingston News - “Calamity Jane is in town again. She entered a certain newspaper office in this city this morning and wanted to know where the dirty cur was who said she was in the poor house. She wanted it clearly understood…

Wed. Nov. 1st, 2017

That’s Not What I Was There For: Ray Lau’s Story

by Rachel Phillips

Since World War I, Montanans have been known for their military service. In honor of Veterans Day, I wanted to share some of Ray Lau’s experiences. Lau is a local Three Forks resident who grew up in Southwest Montana and served in the…

Mon. Oct. 2nd, 2017

Life in Bear Canyon: Logs, Dancing & Steam Engines

by Rachel Phillips

Today, Bear Canyon is generally quiet and peaceful. A dirt road gently winds up the canyon, passing homes, outbuildings, and barns. New World Gulch Trail begins where the road ends, leading adventurous hikers, equestrians, and mountain bikers…

Wed. Aug. 2nd, 2017

Rainbow Land: A History of Bozeman Hot Springs

by Rachel Phillips

It’s summer—time for locals and tourists alike to cool off in ponds, lakes, rivers, and city pools. Today, families flock to water recreation areas like Hyalite and the Madison River, or visit in-town options like the Bozeman Swim…

Sat. Jul. 1st, 2017

She's Wild: The Beginnings of the Bozeman Roundup

by Rachel Phillips

It was the summer of 1919. The Elks Club was busy finalizing plans for their statewide convention—their first big meeting since gathering in Butte in 1916, just before World War I. The war had definitely put an end to large-scale…

Wed. Mar. 1st, 2017

HE was a SHE Manhattan’s Sammy Williams

by Rachel Phillips

Among the graves at Meadowview Cemetery, just south of Manhattan, Montana, sits a rather curious tombstone.  The inscription reads: “A female whose real name is unknown but who has been for many years known as Sammy Williams. …

Sat. Oct. 1st, 2016

Legendary Locals of Bozeman: Spooky Tales

by Rachel Phillips

From its inception as a supply town during Montana’s gold rush in the 1860s, Bozeman has attracted visionaries, leaders, and pioneering thinkers. Now one of Montana’s fastest growing cities, Bozeman still retains elements of the…

Mon. Aug. 1st, 2016

Legendary Locals of Bozeman’s Past

by Rachel Phillips

From its inception as a supply town during Montana’s gold rush in the 1860s, Bozeman has attracted visionaries, leaders, and pioneering thinkers. Now one of Montana’s fastest growing cities, Bozeman still retains elements of the…

Fri. Apr. 1st, 2016

Bicycles & Taxidermy

by Rachel Phillips

In a century-old photograph, William Ginn proudly poses with six gigantic trout, a hint of a smile on his lips and a sparkle in his eyes. In another image, he is propped up on a bicycle in front of a curtained backdrop, muscles straining for…

Thu. Dec. 31st, 2015

The Rialto Remembered

by Rachel Phillips

Bozeman’s Choice Business or Structure You Wish Was STILL Here But Is Gone