50 States of Generosity: Montana
We’re continuing a series at Tweetspeak — 50 States of Generosity, in which we highlight the 50 states of America and give people beautiful ways to understand and be generous with one another by noticing the unique and poetic things each state brings to the country. A more generous people in the States can become a more generous people in the world. We continue with Montana.
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Nickname: Treasure State State Capital: Helena State Flower: Bitterroot State Bird: Western Meadowlark State Animal: Grizzly Bear State Butterfly: Mourning Cloak State Tree: Ponderosa Pine State Fish: Blackspotted Cutthroat Trout State Gemstones: Sapphire and Agate State Motto: Oro y Plata (Gold and Silver) State Song (Official): Montana
When my husband’s parents married in 1935, they loaded his dad’s 1931 Ford Model A with bed and bath linens and headed from Michigan to Montana for their honeymoon. Their first destination was Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park (AKA The Crown Jewel of the Continent), where Dad’s aunt and uncle ran a gas station, motel, and restaurant. Dennis joined his folks on another trip (in a newer car) in 1959. This time their destination was Kalispell and Flathead Lake in the Flathead Valley where the relatives had moved after selling their businesses to Glacier National Park. We recently found old photos of those trips.
Montana has quite a storied history. Much can be learned from the Montana Historical Society that was formed in 1865—even before Montana became a state. Montana’s name comes from the Latin word montanea meaning “mountainous country,” and the United States acquired most of the territory from France in 1803 as part of the Louisiana Purchase. The Montana Territory became the 41st state on November 8, 1889. It’s now the fourth largest state–behind Alaska, Texas, and California. Due to the Continental Divide, it has two distinct geographies—the Rocky Mountains and the Great Plains that include prairies and badlands. As large as it is, only seven states are less populated. That means there’s some wide open country with “land, lots of land” where you can hear the “murmur of the cottonwood trees” and “gaze at the moon and stars until you lose your senses.” Montana’s official name is “The Treasure State,” but it’s also known as “Big Sky Country,” and has been called The Last Best Place.
Archeological evidence shows that indigenous peoples lived in the area for more than 12,000 years. Several major tribal groups made their homes there. The arrival of settlers and ranchers and hunters and the gold rush of 1862 and the railroad and decimation of the buffalo destroyed their native way of life. Montana was thus the site of several wars and major battles, including the Battle of Little Bighorn where the National Park Service maintains a memorial in the southeast part of the state. Today a dozen tribal nations make their homes there, and they welcome respectful visitors. Montana’s State Constitution contains a mandate that recognizes the “distinct cultural heritage” of the First Nations and a commitment to include that preservation in the state’s educational goals. It may be the only state with such a mandate.
Eugene Peterson, who translated the Bible into a modern paraphrase, grew up in and retired back to Flathead Lake. His biographer, Winn Collier, describes that area as being “vast and magnificent” with “granite mountains’ jagged spires piercing the skies, the winter white clinging to the frozen earth, the summer’s verdant forests and azure lake.” (p4) “Early pioneers from the East wrote home describing the Flathead Valley as ‘the Garden of Eden,’ and frontiersman Joshua Pilcher, per Collier, wrote, “The Flathead Lake and its rich and beautiful valley . . . vie in appearance with the beautiful lakes and valleys of Switzerland.” (p5) I’m pretty sure those descriptions could include the whole state. Also, imagine the profusion of native flowers including columbine, poppies, orchids, primroses, daisies, and bitterroot or the scent of ponderosa pine.
Flathead Lake is “the largest natural body of freshwater (by surface area)” in the western U.S and is also one of the cleanest lakes in the world.” Montana boasts 3000 lakes and reservoirs, including Whitefish and Lake McDonald. The state is also home to thousands of rivers and creeks. And a famous faithful geyser in Yellowstone National Park, “the world’s first national park.” There are three other rich valley areas besides the Flathead—Bitterroot, Gallatin, and Paradise. There is so much to do whether it be hiking up a mountain or skiing down it, watching the light dance on a lake or paddling across it in the early morning, exploring the state’s rich culture and history, or riding a horse or catching a camera shot of a wild one, or even spying a grizzly or a herd of bison.
Dennis and I are mapping out our trip now. It may take more than one visit.
I want the rivers running clean,
I want a clear, blue sky,
A place to draw a good, deep breath
And live, before I die.
I want the sage, I want the grass,
I want the curlew’s call,
And I don’t want just half a loaf,–
I’ve got to have it all.
. . .
Just give me country big and wide
With benchland, hills, and breaks,
With coulees, cactus, buttes, and range,
With creeks and mountain lakes,
Until I cross the Great Divide,
Then, God, forgive each sin
And turn me lose on my cayuse
But please don’t fence me in.
—Robert Fletcher in Open Range
Poetry Prompt: Montana Generosities:
Use any of the things you learned about Montana (research more, if you want) and put one or more of them into a poem. Or share a poem about a visit if you’ve traveled there. If you like, weave in a little generosity. Share in the comments.
More About Montana: Poets, Writers, an Artist + Landmarks
Robert Fletcher, an early “cowboy poet” whose poem “Open Range” formed the basis of the lyrics to Cole Porter’s, Don’t Fence Me In. The song was chosen by members of the Western Writers of America as one of the Top 100 Western Songs of all time. It was first introduced by Kate Smith but also sung by Bing Crosby, the Andrews Sisters, Ella Fitzgerald, Gene Autry, Roy Rogers, and numerous others – and even sung by Bob Dylan on the soundtrack of the movie Reagan.
Chris La Tray, Montana poet laureate
Poets in Montana Video Series (YouTube playlist of 62 recordings with Montana poets “yabbering” and reading their work)
Melissa Kwasny, poet
M.L. Smoker, poet
This Place the Gods Touched Earth: Poetry by Montana’s Poets Laureate 2005-2025
Eugene Peterson – The Bible, Poetry and Active Imagination – The On Being Project with Krista Tippett
Charles Russell, Artist
Everything You Need to Know About Charles Russell
Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park
Montana – A toe-tapping song
Montana Melody – Official Montana Melody by LeGrande Harvey
Going Home to Montana – Montie Montana, Jr and his Wranglers (1964)
Montana 4K – Scenic Relaxation Film With Relaxing Piano Music
Photo by Ales Krivec, Unsplash license. Post by Sandra Heska King.
- 50 States of Generosity: Iowa - April 7, 2025
- 50 States of Generosity: Montana - January 27, 2025
- 50 States of Generosity: Idaho - December 16, 2024
Bethany says
“Montana’s State Constitution contains a mandate that recognizes the ‘distinct cultural heritage’ of the First Nations and a commitment to include that preservation in the state’s educational goals. It may be the only state with such a mandate.” Thank you for sharing this, Sandra!
Sandra Heska King says
I thought that was a cool thing, too! Thanks for reading, Bethany.