If you were born and raised in the Treasure State, you’ve probably learned a few interesting things about it over the years, like the fact that we were the first to send a woman to Congress. But with as many cool parts of our history we know, there are also some facts that are a little… bizarre. Impress your friends and family with this knowledge the next time you get together, or just read and enjoy your new title as the Master of Montana trivia.
- The Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman is home to over 13 species of T-Rex, more than anywhere else in the world.
lasirenadolce / Flickr Did you even know that many existed?
- Live in Jordan? Congratulations, you live in one of the most isolated spots in the entire nation.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM / Flickr You’re over 175 miles from the nearest airport and 115 miles from the nearest train, so hopefully you have a reliable vehicle.
- Want to REALLY get away from it all? Montana has the deepest known cave in the United States.
Wikipedia the Tears of the Turtle Cave is located in the Bob Marshall Wilderness and is 1629 feet deep and 1.167 miles long.
- You may have heard of Havre Beneath the Streets, but Havre isn’t the only city with an underground secret.
Juan-Calderon / Flickr There are hidden tunnels under Missoula many say were once connected to brothels and opium rings, which you can read about in the book Historic underground Missoula. Butte and Billings also have old underground tunnels – but none of them are open to the public.
- The Fort Peck Dam is amazing to see… if you can get past the fact that there are bodies entombed inside.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers / Flickr It’s true. Eight men were killed during the dam’s construction, and only two of the bodies were recovered. 53 other workers were also killed during the process, making it one of the deadliest projects in U.S. history.
- Central Montana’s Egg Mountain has thousands of fossilized dinosaur eggs just hanging out in fossilized nests. No big deal.
Wikipedia Egg Mountain is located near Choteau, and it’s a hub for dinosaur research to this day.
- Part of Montana nearly became the 49th state, once upon a time…
Dirk Dallas / Flickr In 1939, some ranchers and farmers attempted to secede and form a new state when they became fed up with the government and the New Deal. It would have been called Absaroka and included parts of Montana, Wyoming, and South Dakota.
- … and then a group of extremists tried to take over the abandoned town of St. Marie.
Jimmy Emerson, DVM / Flickr Several years ago, a group of anti-government, self-proclaimed sovereign citizens starting laying claim to a bunch of abandoned buildings in St. Marie. There was just one problem – they had no legal right to do so, and even self-proclaimed sovereign citizens are still subject to law enforcement. Oops.
- Our pets have the longest life spans.
EmmyMik / Flickr It’s true. Both dogs and cats live the longest, on average, in Montana (and the shortest in Mississippi).
It’s fun learning new things about our state, even if they are a little bizarre. Here are some facts about our local history that sometimes aren’t taught in schools.
lasirenadolce / Flickr
Did you even know that many existed?
Jimmy Emerson, DVM / Flickr
You’re over 175 miles from the nearest airport and 115 miles from the nearest train, so hopefully you have a reliable vehicle.
Wikipedia
the Tears of the Turtle Cave is located in the Bob Marshall Wilderness and is 1629 feet deep and 1.167 miles long.
Juan-Calderon / Flickr
There are hidden tunnels under Missoula many say were once connected to brothels and opium rings, which you can read about in the book Historic underground Missoula. Butte and Billings also have old underground tunnels – but none of them are open to the public.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers / Flickr
It’s true. Eight men were killed during the dam’s construction, and only two of the bodies were recovered. 53 other workers were also killed during the process, making it one of the deadliest projects in U.S. history.
Egg Mountain is located near Choteau, and it’s a hub for dinosaur research to this day.
Dirk Dallas / Flickr
In 1939, some ranchers and farmers attempted to secede and form a new state when they became fed up with the government and the New Deal. It would have been called Absaroka and included parts of Montana, Wyoming, and South Dakota.
Several years ago, a group of anti-government, self-proclaimed sovereign citizens starting laying claim to a bunch of abandoned buildings in St. Marie. There was just one problem – they had no legal right to do so, and even self-proclaimed sovereign citizens are still subject to law enforcement. Oops.
EmmyMik / Flickr
It’s true. Both dogs and cats live the longest, on average, in Montana (and the shortest in Mississippi).
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