The Bad Old Days of Montana: Untold Stories of the Big Sky State

The Bad Old Days of Montana celebrates the state's glorious and rowdy past, focusing on the infamous and notorious settlers who braved the harsh conditions and made unique contributions to the state's complex culture. The book recounts tales of vigilanteism, the Copper Kings, and rugged individuals who shaped the state.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 234 pages
Publication date: 01 November 2023
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

The Bad Old Days of Montana pays homage to the state's illustrious and raucous past. Many locals who were born and raised here take great pleasure in the "badness" of the past, including the landscape, the people, and, most notably, the whiskey. It goes without saying that Montana had all the typical wild west elements in abundance! The chapters focus on the infamous and notorious rather than the law-abiding and civic-minded settlers. These pages, like the state, recount the tales of people who came west seeking, if not their fortune, at least opportunity. It is no secret that Montana was settled by adventurous individuals willing to brave the harsh conditions and prevail. Whether on the right or the wrong side of the law, all settlers and pioneers made unique contributions to the state's complex culture. Certainly, in the nineteenth century, Montana was not for the faint of heart.

Beginning with the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804 as the origins of the mountain men, the book will offer a variety of strange tales, ranging from vigilanteeism to the heyday of the Copper Kings. Many such tales were influenced by too much whiskey and greed. This book is an account of the misfits, outlaws, and rugged individuals who left their mark on this most remarkable state.

Populated by the native tribes before "discovery" by Lewis and Clark at the headwaters of the Missouri River, the land that would become known as Montana was traversed by mountain men, mined by gold and mineral seekers, and ranched and harvested by homesteaders. Throughout these varied waves of discovery and settlement, this book explores the less-than-savory dealings, the early attempts at law and order (which often failed or had questionable results), and the myriad of colorful characters and events that made Montana what it is today.

Weight: 331g
Dimension: 223 x 153 x 13 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781493067268