GuidetoMontana.com

The “Last Best Place”

Deriving its name from the Spanish word for mountain , Montana is a land of gorgeous landscapes, including a mass of ranges throughout the central and western portion of the region. Nestled below the Canadian border and connected to Pacific Northwest and Great Plains states Idaho, Wyoming, and the Dakotas, those who live in Montana understand why it is referred to as the “Treasure State.”

A Natural Bounty

Also referred to as the “Land of the Shining Mountains,” and “Big Sky Country,” Montana remains one of the few American states not yet overrun by the skeletal crawl of superhighways or the stuffy expansion of commercial urban centers. Despite most of the United States’ massive industrialism in the late 19th century, Montana still relies on an agricultural economy, fueled by lumber and mineral resources. As you might expect with a region this natural and this beautiful, Montana is also supported by a strong tourist industry.

Tourist Trophies

Although Montana has no major league sports team, it does possess some of the most recognized landmarks in the United States. Nature-lovers are drawn to the state’s Glacier National Park, which welcomes a few million visitors each year. Also funneling tourists into the region is the massively popular Yellowstone National Park, which has three of its five entrances within the borders of Montana.

Aside from the natural beauty is the famous - or, perhaps infamous - site of the Battle of Little Bighorn, where United States Army cavalry commander George Armstrong Custer made his last stand against a Native American force under Sitting Bull. Custer’s defeat is one of the most remarkable successes for an aboriginal force, who were considered outgunned and generally less skilled in military operations than the colonial forces.

Winter Wonderland

Because of its impressive mountain ranges, Montana includes a host of popular ski resorts. Among them are:

A Vast Vista

Boasting a land area of some 145,000 square miles, the creeping peaks and valleys of Montana form the fourth-largest state in the United States. Bordering the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan, Montana is also an international landmark.

Over the next few pages, we’ll further investigate the reasons to visit Montana, appropriately referred to by those living there as the “last best place.”