CCMuseum

Welcome to the Official Web Site of the Carter County Museum. Should you find a broken link or other problem please contact us: ccmuseum@midrivers.com



CARTER COUNTY MUSEUM

Carter County Museum was chartered in 1936, through the efforts of Walter H. Peck, DeLoss Hall, and Septon Cady and a number of interested area residents, under the auspices of the Carter County Geological Society. Carter County Museum holds the distinct honor of being the first chartered county owned museum founded within the State of Montana.... more....



DARRELL RAY MARTIN DISPLAY OPENS

Little Shield — Assiniboine Sioux // Standing Bear — Gros Ventre

Darrell Martin was an American Indian whose heritage was of three different tribes: Ah Ah-Ne-Nin (Gros Ventre); Nakota (Assiniboine Sioux); and Hevhaitanio or Sowania (Southern Cheyenne). His great-grandfather Bias (The Boy), was the last traditional chief of the Ah Ah-Ne-Nin. This regalia, created traditionally in its entirety, is a replica of Chief The Boy’s with some additions specific to Darrell and his personal family - Zane Peabdy-Martin, J.D. French, and Amanda Martin). Darrell lectured, consulted and taught courses regarding American Indian Culture from coast to coast. He was always asked to explain his regalia. Some of his work consisted of an American Indian Liaison for the National Park Service, the Assistant Chief of Interpretation at Mount Rushmore, President of Fort Belknap Tribes and a Tourism Director. Always, in one fashion or another, he was a leader with many irons in the fire.

Items contained within this Native American Display are on loan to the Carter County Museum through the courtesy of Zane Peabody-Martin, widow of Darrell Ray Martin.

Carter County Museum is very grateful to Mrs. Peabody-Martin for her generosity.

Text Box: Little Shield — Assiniboine Sioux // Standing Bear — Gros Ventre
Darrell Martin was an American Indian whose heritage was of three different tribes: Ah Ah-Ne-Nin (Gros Ventre); Nakota (Assiniboine Sioux); and Hevhaitanio or Sowania (Southern Cheyenne). His great-grandfather Bias (The Boy), was the last traditional chief of the Ah Ah-Ne-Nin. This regalia, created traditionally in its entirety, is a replica of Chief The Boy’s with some additions specific to Darrell and his personal family - Zane Peabdy-Martin, J.D. French, and Amanda Martin).
He copied The Boy’s beading patterns and designs on the shirt, leggings, belt, arm bands and chest bands. With the belief that no thing on earth is perfect, there were mistakes purposely placed. The beading on the arms represent Chief The Boy’s family on one side and Darrel’s personal family on the other. The beaded shield on the front is representative of the Nakota name his maternal grandmother gave him: Little Shield. The bear claws represent the Gros Ventre name his paternal grandmother gave him: Standing Bear. The cross found in some of the beadwork was very specific to Chief The Boy; he was the first to use it in his beadwork. The fringed sides were preferred as rain would drip off allowing the buckskin to dry faster.
Darrell lectured, consulted and taught courses regarding American Indian Culture from coast to coast. He was always asked to explain his regalia. Some of his work consisted of an American Indian Liaison for the National Park Service, the Assistant Chief of Interpretation at Mount Rushmore, President of Fort Belknap Tribes and a Tourism Director. Always, in one fashion or another, he was a leader with many irons in the fire.
He loved his Ekalaka family and the people he had befriended. While here he was able to get away from his hectic schedule. Ekalaka was his fun place.

. Carter County Museum
Preserving the Past for the Future



MONTANA DINOSAUR TRAIL

The Montana Dinosaur Trail was formed in 2004, through the combined efforts of the Montana Department of Commerce, Travel Montana; Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Parks Division; Bureau of Land Management, Montana State; various Montana Tourism Bureau's; and the Museum's across the State of Montana that house Dinosaur exhibits, host Dinosaur Digs & etc. The trail was formed in a effort to increase awareness of the vast amount of Dinosaur Museum's located across the state and to aid tourists in locating them. Carter County Museum is a proud member of the Montana Dinosaur Trail.

To learn more about the Dinosaur Trail just click on the Montana Dinosaur Trail logo .....



EXPANSION PLANS UNDERWAY

2002 began an exciting time in the life of Carter County Museum as we embarked upon the process of purchasing additional property adjacent to the current museum building for the purpose of expanding. The new 80' x 80'addition will house both the Paleontology and Native America Departments. The additional space will allow for an expansion of exhibits in both departments as well as a small working lab for use by visiting research teams working in our area during the summer. more....



DISPLAY OPENING DELAYED TILL 08

The one room school house which Carter County Museum recently acquired is experiencing some problems in getting it moved to its new home located on the museum grounds. The charming old school was a gift to the Museum from the Carter County Fair Board. Central School, as it was named, was a frame building built in 1920, in School District #34. Closed in 1947, for a time, it was relocated within the same school district and was reopened in time for fall classes to resume. Following many years of service when Central School finally closed it's doors at the end of a school year and its bell rang no more it marked the stillness of children voices within its walls and the end of an era. It is hoped that this wonderful addition to the museum will open for public viewing by June 2008.

To contact us:

Carter County Museum

306 N. Main Street

Ekalaka, Montana 59324-0445

Phone: (406) 7756886