WELCOME TO Montana 101

FUN WITH MAPS – ISSUE 2021-101 DAILY FEATURE:

By Steve Kovacs (Introduction by Chuck Gibson)

LOVELAND, OH (May 26, 2021) – In Issue 2021-100 of Steve Kovacs Fun with Maps, we begin our studies in Montana 101.

Big Sky Country

Yep, that is Montana.

Montana was the traditional home to the Crow, Blackfeet and Cheyenne Native American tribes and a few others.  This land was part of the 1803 Louisiana Purchase and thus became part of the US.  Lewis and Clark were among the first Westerners to explore this area.

The Territory of Montana was formed in 1864 on this day with Bannack as the capital, which subsequently became a ghost town.

Thanks to gold prospecting, Helena was founded in late 1864 and became the capital in short eleven years later.  It is still the capital of Montana, the 41st state, having joined the union in 1884.

Breaking a bit with tradition, today we do not present a map, rather a set of views of the boom town of Helena, Montana from 1890, created by Pickett.

Steve Kovacs and his wife Theresa reside in Loveland, Ohio where they raised their two children. He is a passionate collector of antique maps.

Visit his antique map boutique world-on-paper online. Watch for his daily feature Steve Kovacs: Antique Maps & Fun Facts here on Loveland Beacon.