Philip Gallaher, a civil engineer and determined visionary, pushed for a Cooke City railroad and enlisted the help of Boston financier Elijah Smith.  The financial Panic of 1893 and interference by the Northern Pacific stymied Smith and Gallaher’s efforts, but in 1903 a Billings businessman and a youthful entrepreneur from Milwaukee joined Gallaher to revitalize the quest for a rail line to Bear Creek and Cooke City.  Construction of the Yellowstone Park Railroad began in 1905, but it never came close to Cooke City or its namesake destination.

The Carbon County Historical Society will be hosting the Red Lodge Chamber After Hours April 13th from 5:30- 7:30 PM. We will be providing light snacks and refreshments, introducing attendees to the museum’s goals and history, as well as giving tours of the Museum building. Raffles for a couple fabulous prizes at the end!

A public meeting hosted by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality taking place at the Carbon County Historical Society & Museum on March 30th, 2023 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. The meeting is open to public and will be an informational session in regards to the reclamation work that will take place along Rock Creek post flooding, particularly along the area near the old East Side Mine. They will discuss the plan to regrade the bank on the east side of the river and to remove debris in the river to prevent further flooding.

Ralph Saunders will be speaking on John Colter’s epic trek in the winter of 1807 - 1808. Colter left no written account however Saunders, a map specialist, will offer new clues to the plausible route.

CANCELLED. Please see the Western Heritage Center in Billings for live coverage of this event on Thursday, June 15.

Race and the Wild West is not only the winner of the 2021 SPUR Award for Best First Non-Fiction Book but was also a Finalist for Best Biography from Western Writers of America, and winner of the 2021 Gita Chaudhuri Prize awarded by the Western Association of Women's Historians.

Lee Silliman, curator, writer, educator and photographer provides a visual show analyzing artists and scientists documentation of bird life in the 18th and 19th century.

A must attend program for new residents as well as generational families. Through vintage photographs and narrative, we can all gain further appreciation and details about the community we love. Join local author John Clayton for his presentation on his iconic book.

Join us for author Bradford Pearson’s book presentation, via Zoom. He speaks of the dark chapter of the Japanese-American concentration camp at the base of Heart Mt. near Cody, WY. Behind barb-wire fences, in the face of racism, brutal winters and few comforts, a high school football team called the Eagles was organized bringing hope and courage to the incarcerated. Dakota Russel, Director of the Heart Mountain Interpretative Center will be present to provide further details and also answer questions.

Join Greg Smith, a Ranger Naturalist in Glacier National Park for nearly 20 years, for a fascinating lecture and look at the grizzly bear in contemporary Montana.

“Humans have been on the North American scene for an estimated 30,000 to 15,000 years. Our arrival was preceded by the grizzly bear by perhaps 20,000 years – who would cross the same tenuous landscape bridge, arriving in North America some 50,000 to 60,000 years ago. It is estimated that by the time of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, upwards of 50,000 to 100,000 grizzly bears roamed the American West. The settlement period of the West would see a dramatic decline in grizzly bear numbers and a corresponding decrease in available habitat. Now, as New West meets Old West, grizzly bear numbers are a focal point of concern and contention. Join Smith in a biological, cultural, and philosophical look at the grizzly bear in contemporary Montana.

Greg Smith lives in Bozeman and was a Ranger Naturalist and Backcountry Ranger in Glacier National Park for nearly 20 years. A longtime believer in the power of education, Smith now works with kids and adults as a storyteller, naturalist and historian. In his spare time, Greg enjoys trail running, backpacking, Nordic skiing and traveling the world on his bike.” Humanities Montana

This speaker event is sponsored and supported by Humanities Montana.

Join Author Chris Warren as he discusses his novel “Ernest Hemmingway in the Yellowstone High country.” Chris, a native of Cooke City, describes the rich history of Ernest Hemmingway in our beloved Yellowstone High Country and the colorful cast of characters whom he knew and loved throughout his life.

The Holiday Season has officially kicked off, and the Mercantile at the Carbon County Historical Society & Museum has joined the legion of area businesses that hale make our economy so special.
Swing by the museum or online to check out our selection of unique gifts that are sure to leave an impression on your special recipient(s).

Spend $20 or more and receive a copy of Shirley Zupan's "History of Red Lodge" FREE!
Use code HOHOHISTORY20 at checkout.

Spend $100 or more and receive a copy of "Red Lodge: Saga of a Western Area" FREE with your purchase! Use code HOHOHISTORY100 at checkout.

We are also offering free shipping on orders totaling $60 or more! Use code CCHSSHIP60 at checkout.