NATIVE AMERICANS

Enjoy a trip back into the past of our Native American heritage. Some of the artifacts on display in the Native American Room date back to the stone age. Among the last Native American's known to have called Carter County home were the members of the proud Sioux and the Northern Cheyenne Nations. Carter County was a part of the area used as their hunting grounds. Medicine Rocks State Park, located just 14 miles north on Hwy. 7, was used by them as a scared and holy place. It is still viewed as a holy site by many today.

	VETERANS ROOM

With the formation of Carter County in 1917, many of Carter County's son's and daughter's have answered the call of their country and marched off to war, some never to return. The purpose of this room is to tell their story in some small way. Each display within the Carter County Veterans Room depicts an era of our country's call to duty, beginning with the Indian Wars in the mid 1800's to Desert Storm, complete with many of the uniforms, accoutrements, and memorabilia of the experience. A brief explanation of each display may be found directly above the display.

A Wall of Honor has been established within the room where Golden name tags pay homage to those brave men and women whether falling on some battle field in the line of duty or later in life. The Wall of Honor is monitored by both local posts of the VFW and the American Legion. 

 

	HOMESTEADERS

The advent of the big Texas Cattle Drives into this area of the Montana Territory in 1882, i.e. the Hash Knife, Bridle Bits and the Mill Iron Brands, all members of the Continental Land and Cattle Company, as well as members of several other large corporations has resulted in a fine collection of early cowboy weapons, saddles, and related historical items housed in the Western Department of the Museum. Following the big blizzard of 1888, the large cattle companies occupying this area folded, but many of the cowboys who had worked for them stayed on and made this area their home. As the area opened for homesteading in the early 1890's, the influx of additional people looking for land expanded greatly up through the early 1920's. Many of the descendants of those early settlers remain in the area, some on the original homestead lands, today. Proudly their heritage has been preserved resulting in a wonderful collection of pictures, personal items, household goods, clothing, tools and related historical items which can be see in the area set aside to honor these brave men & women.

 

	PALEONTOLOGY

Seventy-five million years ago Carter County was the home of many various species of dinosaurs and their contemporaries living in and along the marshes that bordered the retreating Pierre Sea, which covered much of Eastern Montana. Today, their remains are being retrieved from the shale and sands where they were entombed, many of which can be seen in the Lambert Room. 

	GEOLOGY

The Hell Creek formation which underlies this area of Montana dates back 70 to 80 million years and is rich in the remains of  dinosaurs, amphibian animals and marine life, as well as the associated flora of this time period. Petrified trees, leaves, and even animal footprints can be found upon close examination of many surface areas. As Carter County was once covered by the Pierre Sea almost any excavation of the soil can produce ammonites, baculites, and associated materials. This is ideal hunting grounds for both the professional and the amateur archeologist and paleontologists.

 

	NATURAL HABITAT

The Natural Habitat Room is an area within the museum geared to displaying some of the wildlife that calls this corner of Montana their home which one might be privileged to observe as you venture out across our beautiful prairie landscape. The Mule Ear Deer, the Antelope, a Red Tail Hawk, and Loon, as well as a Canadian Goose to name just a few.

This area is especially loved by children as the area also contains some of the more common animal life that can be found on any ranch.

To contact us:

Carter County Museum

306 N. Main Street

Ekalaka, Montana 59324-0445

Phone: (406) 7756886