Prairie-fueled sprinter
Solitary wanderer—
Pronghorn speeds away
Photo by Brett Sayles on Pexels.com
Gentle breeze blowing
Rippling waves of amber grain—
Harvest time awaits
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
Dark thunderclouds form
Bringing devastating harm—
Escaping storm’s wrath
Photo by Ralph W. lambrecht on Pexels.com
A massive American Sycamore tree is framed by surrounding trees at Walnut Woods Metro Park in central Ohio. The tree may be over a hundred years old, and it is a well-known landmark at the park.
The massive, concrete spillway of the Fort Peck Dam is pictured, and it is located about three miles from the dam itself. The dam was constructed between 1933 and 1940, and it is located in northeastern Montana, near the communities of Glasgow and Nashua. The dam is the largest hydraulically-filled dam in the United States, and the reservoir is the fifth largest man-made lake in the country.
Growing in Chestnut Ridge Metro Park in central Ohio, many hikers stop and admire this unusually shaped fruit growing above their heads. The pawpaw tree is a native tree to Ohio, and its fruit is a vital part of the food chain for many types of wildlife. The fruit offers a unique taste that is somewhere between a mango and a banana.
Just down the road from Ennis, Montana, visitors will find Virginia City as well as Nevada City. Both communities contain rich artifacts of history from the gold rush days of the 1860s and 1870s. This small cabin was probably moved into Nevada City, but it represents some of the housing found during the time period.
Blooming flowers announce the arrival of spring at Ohio’s Chestnut Ridge Metro Park.
In downtown Billings, the unique architecture of the Western Heritage Center stands as witness of the city’s rich and diverse history in the Big Sky Country. Built in 1901, the structure originally provided a home for the Parmly Billings Memorial Library.
Nature shows off her green splendor and sends peaceful vibes outward on an early June morning at central Ohio’s Walnut Woods Metro Park.
The Beartooth Mountains frame the background above a Montana valley. If one looks closely, snow is still hiding in the upper ridges of the peaks on a mid-summer afternoon.
The green, lush vegetation welcomes all to central Ohio’s Chestnut Ridge Metro Park where anyone feels in harmony with God’s creation.
Visiting a shop in Montana’s historic Virginia City, a person just might happen to find this fine gentleman offering greetings to all who drop in.
A foggy, misty morning outlines a beautiful framed image of a spider’s web between the posts on the Big Run bridge at central Ohio’s Walnut Woods Metro Park.
A roadside stop allows a moment to capture the scenic view along Interstate 15 in Montana between Great Falls and Helena. A highway bridge that was constructed in the 1930s is visible at the bottom of the narrow valley.
Arrival of flowers marks the return of spring to Ohio’s Chestnut Ridge Metro Park.
Montana’s Holter Lake offers many types of recreation for anyone with a boat. A small marina is shown (from the summer of 2018), and the lake is located near the small community of Wolf Creek.
The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is well-known for its outstanding array of wildlife from around the world as well as its animal conservation efforts. The “Heart of Africa” exhibit displays the African savanna as one might find it . . . filled with village life, giraffes, zebras, and so much more.
A final look back at winter as shown near Lone Mountain in the Madison Range near Big Sky, Montana. As one looks at the far peaks in the background, think of the snowmelt that will soon fill the raging whitewater in the Gallatin River.
Summer shadows greet any walker at central Ohio’s Chestnut Ridge Metro Park. This photo was taken from a trail through the trees into a grassy meadow.
This summer garden comes from Billings, Montana at the Moss Mansion, which is an historic house now maintained as a museum.
With winter fading away in favor of the spring season, thoughts will soon be thinking of beautiful wild flowers and rich green fields. This photo was taken last summer at Chestnut Ridge Metro Park in central Ohio.
My youngest daughter and her husband completed a winter hike into Hyalite Canyon south of Bozeman, Montana. The popular recreation area is located between the Gallatin Canyon and the Paradise Valley.
The Polar vortex and repeated snowstorms in central Ohio have made the winter of January-February, 2019 one to remember.
The beauty of western Montana is captured at Holter Lake, near the small town of Wolf Creek. The lake is a popular summer recreation destination as seen in this photo from late July of 2018.
These Canadian geese seem immune to the polar vortex and snowfall in central Ohio.
A February snowstorm moves over the summit of Lone Mountain in southwestern Montana. The Big Sky Resort occupies the mountain, which is well known for its first-class skiing in the wintertime.
Ohio’s winter blankets the ground with a fresh coating of snow. The Canadian geese on the pond don’t seem to mind winter’s arrival.
Pioneer Falls in the Spanish Peaks of Montana’s Madison Range is expertly captured by my daughter and her husband on one of their wilderness hikes.
An early autumn sunset dazzles and amazes as night arrives in central Ohio.
Central Ohio’s Chestnut Ridge Metro Park in full summer foliage.
My youngest daughter and her husband are avid skiers. They took this picture of Blaze Mountain in the Spanish Peaks of the Madison Range of southwestern Montana. They have skied the backcountry ski line a few times during the summer. The beautiful and long snowfield fills a small gully that runs down the northwestern face of the mountain. Skiers have to hike to the snowfield, but for an avid skier, it is well worth the effort.
A view of downtown Billings, Montana from this past summer. Notice the smoked-filled sky in the background; the smoke came from fires far from Billings.
From Walnut Woods Metro Park, the landscape has changed from the bright colors of autumn to the gray and barrenness of the coming winter.
Summer’s clouds create shadows that cover part of the vast countryside near the Little Bighorn Battlefield in southeastern Montana.
A nesting pair of Canadian geese prepare to make a new home this past spring.
Autumn’s leaves have fallen, and winter is on the way at central Ohio’s Chestnut Ridge Metro Park.
Soon the mountains of the Big Sky Country will be filled with snow just as seen in this scene from last winter near Lone Mountain at Big Sky, Montana.
An autumn sunrise illuminates the beauty of Ohio’s Walnut Woods Metro Park.
Ohio’s Chestnut Ridge Metro Park during mid-summer.
A late July view of the Gallatin Valley, just outside of Bozeman, Montana.
The images and traditions prior to the start of an Ohio State University football game. This photo was taken by my daughter who attended the game with her husband.
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
Traveling back to Montana, Phil and Phyllis arrive from back East. They’ve brought their teenage grandson along to fish the Gallatin River.
Staying at the Rainbow Ranch, they plan to fly fish right along the river, which runs along the property. The Ranch employs a fishing guide during the summer months. Bert knows all of the best spots to fish on the Gallatin, and he is always bragging about his fishing prowess. As he always reminds people, “experience counts.”
Complaining under his breath, Bert takes the trio of fishing pilgrims to the river. He always frowns upon city folks who come out to the Gallatin to fish. All novices . . . they have no clue about fishing a river.
Bert sets up Phil and his grandson, and they begin making tentative casts on to the river. Each has fished very little, and their inexperience offers a bit of amusement to Bert.
Meanwhile, Phyllis moves down the river a few paces from Bert. She shouts out to Bert, “I wonder who will catch the first fish?”
Bert replies, “A piece of ‘rainbow trout’ cake my dear!”
Bert begins to cast several times with little luck, not even a bite. He glances down the river bank at Phyllis, and reminds himself he has plenty of time to catch the “first” fish.
Phyllis spies a perfect hole in front of two rocks. She casts her line perfectly into her chosen spot. Hmm, Bert didn’t even see her awesome cast because he is too busy with his own fishing.
Strike!
Phyllis’ line goes taut. She has a “granddaddy” rainbow trout hooked on her line.
Bert looks over at her with dismay. Phyllis laughs and continues reeling in her prize catch. Calling over to Bert, she shouts, “Experience counts, you know.”
As she lands a hefty, beautiful rainbow trout in the tall grass along the river bank, she tells Bert more of her story, “I fished these same waters years ago as a little girl. My daddy taught me well. I practically grew up on this river.”
Bert realizes he has been had. If he does catch a trout today, it will likely taste more like crow.
Waking up on a cold, frigid, winter morn
Looking like one more day with a storm
Pulling the warm covers over my bare head
Let’s fast forward to a new season instead
Always dreaming big at night
Never alone, perfect delight
Fast forward to a hot summer day
Sensational, unblemished blue sky
Feeling an urge to jump up, shout and say
Have you ever seen a more beautiful sky?
Seeing a Big Montana Sky
Morning sun climbs high
Traveling to Montana brings pure pleasures
Experiencing a saddlebag full of treasures
Shining high above, a cloudless view
Bringing a smile to God, always true
Always dreaming big at night
Never alone, perfect delight
Western hospitality, the Big Sky way
Filled with warmest smiles, no haste
Be certain to come back as we always say
Montana’s Big Sky, the Last Best Place!
Seeing a Big Montana Sky
Morning sun climbs high
Some of my readers have probably missed earlier posts about Montana, the Big Sky Country. Here are links to previously published posts about my native state. Enjoy!
From a poem, experience a ride on the train in southern Montana:
Become better acquainted with Montana’s largest city:
In poetic form, learn more about some of Montana’s history:
Here is a final poem about Native American history:
An outdoor mural captures the heroism of Native American warriors
On a sunny, blistering hot June day and hour
Two cultures collide in an epic that now towers
White, European culture ever advances to take
Native American culture realizes what’s at stake
America’s first citizens reside as native born
Now witnessing their way of life being torn
The Little Bighorn River provides a place for rest
Nestled in a large village are warriors, the best
Journeying into the Montana Territory for a cause
U.S. Calvary relentlessly travels without a pause
Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho await
The brave soldiers never realize their final fate
Lakota spiritual leader Sitting Bull envisions all
“Thick as grasshoppers” come soldiers to fall
The 7th Calvary invades the stream called Greasy Grass
Led by Lieutenant Colonel Custer, many die much too fast
Crazy Horse and Gall command warriors in this feat
Annihilating most of Custer’s troops in total defeat
The marker at the lower right identifies where Lt. Colonel George Custer fell during the battle. His remains are interred at West Point.
The coalition of Native Americans wins today
Bringing honor to warriors with much to say
The great Sioux nation wins this final showdown
But their way of life will enter its final sundown
A collision of cultures—Native and White
Today, there is no reason to ever fight
The human rights of the Native Americans still blaze
Working to preserve a culture without further decay
Little Bighorn Battlefield is located in Montana about an hour’s drive from Billings on Interstate 90. The pictures shown were taken at the battlefield site a few years ago.
If you are interested in reading more about Montana, check out these previous posts:
Visit the Magic City (Billings, Montana)
Photo Gallery (includes numerous photographs of Montana as well as Ohio)
Their spirit soars across the brilliant Big Sky
Like an eagle spreading wings, ready to fly
Enriching man’s dreams in this last best, special place
Montana spirits continue to haunt the Treasure State
Following the sacred buffalo across the vast land
Native Americans roam the plains in small bands
Setting traps in beaver-rich streams during wintertime
Fur trappers pursue thick pelts for men’s hats very fine
Panning for gold along streams such as Alder Gulch
Miners rush to another strike on Last Chance Gulch
Building tracks for iron horses that seem to go forever
Railroads build mighty empires for men rich and clever
Pushing the unselfish Native Americans brutally aside
Their culture slowly fades away, but never their pride
Riding the cattle range from dawn until dusk
Cowboys work tirelessly in a life they trust
Toiling in an arid, unforgiving land that feels hostile
Homesteaders struggle and sometimes feel futile
Digging around the clock in copper mines deep underground
Miners work where safety is not much and accidents abound
Cutting the western forests’ tall pines down to size
Loggers harvest miles of timber as their final prize
Looking back at Montana’s past with much to relive and say
Many memories of the past fade, but a few remain today
Their spirit soars across the brilliant Big Sky
Like an eagle spreading wings, ready to fly
Montana uses two nicknames, Big Sky Country and Treasure State. Montana became the 41st state admitted to the Union in 1889.
The Big Sky Country’s “Magic City” is an inspiring place to visit and spend a few days. Montana’s largest city, Billings, offers the conveniences of a bigger city with the friendliness and smallness that makes a person feel right at home.
With a population just over 100,000, Billings is by far the largest city in Montana, but it provides an atmosphere filled with plenty of western hospitality. Travel connections are quite accommodating with major airline service arriving at the nearby Billings Logan Airport as well as highway connections via Interstates 90 and 94.
Founded in 1882, Billings was nicknamed the “Magic City” because of its quick, rapid growth. Almost overnight, Billings awakened because of its significant location along the mainline of America’s second transcontinental railroad, the Northern Pacific.
Billings has long been a railroad hub with several rail lines traveling through the city. In addition to the Northern Pacific, other lines have included the Milwaukee Road and the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy lines. Today, these lines have all been merged into BNSF (Burlington Northern Santa Fe).
Billings takes its name from Frederick Billings, a former President of the Northern Pacific Railroad. The free-roaming Yellowstone River borders the southern boundaries of the city, and the majestic sandstone foundation, called the Rimrocks, borders the northern tier.
Downtown Billings offers a vibrant retail district with unique shops, restaurants, hotels, and local craft breweries. There are numerous city parks and green space, with Pioneer Park being one of the crown jewels in the city’s park system. Billings is a retail center for much of south-central Montana as well as northern Wyoming. For shoppers traveling to any Montana destination, remember that the state does not levy a general sales tax on retail purchases.
Downtown Billings provides green space along with modern office buildings.
Within the confines of the greater Billings area, one will find numerous attractions to fill up anyone’s taste for culture, history, and entertainment.
In the downtown corridor, the Western Heritage Center offers distinct local history about Billings and the surrounding area. There is a mix of permanent exhibits along with rotating points of historical interest. The building is located in the former city library, and it continues today as a modern, handicap-accessible museum.
The Western Heritage Center was built with an exterior using sandstone quarried from sites in Montana. The building was originally constructed to be the public library (note the sign above the entrance).
The Yellowstone Art Museum sits on the site of the former Yellowstone County Jail, and the core part of the jail building was remodeled to provide the original home for the museum. Additions have been added to the museum over the years, and it is now houses some of the finest art collections in the region.
The Moss Mansion is a “must-see” stop. The historic home was built in 1903 by P. B. Moss. At the time of its construction, the home was located on the western edge of the city. The last surviving family member lived there until the 1980s. Today the mansion, which stands preserved with all of its grandeur on the inside as well as on the outside, is a museum open to the public.
The front of the Moss Mansion as viewed from Division Street on the east side of the home. Note the unique design as well as the well-manicured grounds.
Venturing out from the city center, one can spend time at Zoo Montana, which is home to Montana’s largest zoo complex. The zoo is limited in its number of species on display, but the setting along Canyon Creek is perfect for a wonderful time filled with experiencing nature’s habitat as well as the awesome landscape. In the summertime, the best time to visit the zoo is in the morning hours when the temperatures are not too hot, and the animals will usually be more active.
A Red Panda calls Zoo Montana its home as it explores a shaded area of the grounds.
If you are a baseball fan, Billings remains a hotbed for this longtime sport. With a recently built stadium, Dehler Field, baseball games fill up many summer nights. The Billings Mustangs, who are a rookie league farm club for the Cincinnati Reds, as well as the two American Legion teams, the Royals and the Scarlets, play under the lights at the field.
Billings has a long tradition of baseball success that is exemplified by major league pitcher Dave McNally, who pitched in the 1960s and 1970s for the Baltimore Orioles. He was a multiple season 20-game winner, and is the only pitcher to hit a grand slam home run in World Series play. Famous sportscaster Brent Musberger spent his early years in Billings, and has remained a huge baseball fan throughout his life.
If one has a taste to travel a short distance from Billings, there are many attractions nearby. Pompey’s Pillar National Monument offers a look at the only physical evidence left by the explorers from Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery back in 1804-1806. Captain William Clark carved his initials on a pillar of sandstone near the Yellowstone River. The site is located about 25 miles east of Billings along Interstate 94, and a superb interpretative center and gift shop add much to the visit.
Traveling about an hour from Billings on Interstate 90 to the south, history buffs will find an excellent place to learn more about Native American culture and their struggle to preserve their way of life. The Little Bighorn Battlefield is located just outside of Hardin near the freeway. While the battle took place long ago in 1876, visitors can learn much about the major participants of the battle.
Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer and his U.S. 7th Calvary were handily defeated by Lakota Sioux and Cheyenne warriors led by chiefs Sitting Bull, Gall, and Crazy Horse. There is a wonderful interpretative center, and plan to complete the automobile tour that includes most of the battlefield site.
Markers of fallen 7th Calvary soldiers are visible throughout the Little Bighorn Battlefield. Much of the saga of the battle has been updated from Native American oral history about the event.
There is much more to the Billings area as well as the other attractions a short drive from the city center. To learn more about these, visit the “Magic City.”
