Sign in Using FacebookBozeman Guide » More About Bozeman: Interesting Facts
Interesting Facts
- With a population pushing 35,000, Bozeman is the fifth largest city in Montana. This former cow town is now something of a college town. Bozeman is the home of Montana State University (1893). The city enjoys the energy and vitality of 12,000 students, who represent more than one third of Bozeman's total population.
- Set in the scenic Gallatin Valley of Southwestern Montana, Bozeman depends heavily on tourism for its livelihood. With an abundance of nearby rivers, streams, mountains, and its close proximity to Yellowstone National Park, Bozeman offers visitors a number of recreational opportunities, including fly fishing, skiing, hiking, rafting, mountain climbing and more.
- Founded by farmers in 1863, Bozeman was named for the mountain man and guide John Bozeman. Before that, the area was a sacred hunting ground for various Native American tribes, such as the Crow, Blackfeet, Shoshonee, and Flathead. Needless to say, tension erupted when the white settlers laid claim to the land. Debate still exists over John Bozeman's death. Some say he was killed by Blackfeet warriors, and others speculate that he was the victim of a business deal gone bad.
- In 1867, as protection against hostile Indians, Fort Ellis was established on the site where William Clark and his men passed through on July 14, 1806. For the next seventy or eighty years, the fort served as a vital base and support post for the Cavalry, which included the troops who fought at the famous Battle of Little Bighorn in 1876. Today, unfortunately, nothing remains of Fort Ellis.
- The famous Bozeman Trail splintered off from the Oregon Trail making its way toward the gold fields of southwest Montana. However, it encroached upon the traditional hunting grounds of the Cheyenne and Sioux and frequent skirmishes ensued. The trail became known as "Bloody Bozeman."
- One of the biggest attractions in Bozeman is the fascinating Museum of the Rockies. The museum attempts to explain the entire course of history in the Northern Rocky Mountains for the past seventy or eighty million years! Today, most tourists are drawn to the fossilized skull of a Tyrannosaurus Rex that was unearthed in the area in 1990.
- With a reputation for being a "frontier" town, it's ironic that Bozeman is home to the American Computer Museum. The various exhibits trace the history of computing over the past 4,000 years. In 1994, the one-of-a-kind museum won the distinguished Dibner Award for Excellence in "Exhibits of the History of Technology and Culture."
- Bozeman attracts thousands of skiers to the area each year. Big Sky, which is Montana's largest and most popular ski resort, is only about an hour away. If you head northeast for about fifteen miles, you'll come across Bridger Bowl ski resort, which is fairly steep and a good test for accomplished skiers. Both Big Sky and Bridger Bowl have an average annual snow fall of 350 inches.
- The Gallatin County Pioneer Museum is a favorite tourist attraction. It's actually housed in the old county jail, which was in use until fairly recently. For all you "High Noon" fans, the museum features a Gary Cooper exhibit. After all, the famous actor spent his formative years growing up in Bozeman.
- With such a strong tourism business, Bozeman can be quite a festive place. The city puts on several great events and festivals each year. The Montana Winter Fair at the Gallatin County Fairgrounds is a big draw each January. In addition, the Sweet Pea Festival at Lindley Park is a three-day event celebrating music and the arts and is held during the first week in August.
Eat Out and Save Money!
