Bozeman, Montana

From the words written in Clark’s journal from his exploration in July of 1806 when he traveled through the area from Three Forks along the Gallatin River to the area now known as Bozeman, Montana it can be described the same today as it was then by the local natives which was the “Valley of the Flowers”.

John Bozeman and his partner John Jacobs opened the Bozeman Trail several years later in 1863. The Bozeman Trail was an offshoot from the Oregon Trail that led to the mining town of Virginia City through the Gallatin Valley.

In 1864, John Bozeman, William Bealle, and Daniel Rouse platted the town. In the documents recorded at this time is the passage "standing right in the gate of the mountains ready to swallow up all tenderfeet that would reach the territory from the east, with their golden fleeces to be taken care of...". Even though the Indian Wars caused the Bozeman Trail to be closed in 1868, but this did not stop settlers from moving to this beautiful and fertile land.

The first herd in Montana’s cattle industry arrived in 1866. The story of this cattle rancher can be found in the history of Montana as the Nelson story. Nelson made it past angry Indians and even the US Army with 3,000 head of cattle. The army of course tried to turn him back for his own safety, however, Nelson was determined and his actions became the first of a long history of the cattle industry in Montana.

In 1868, Captain R. S. LaMotte and two companies of the 2nd Cavalry established Fort Ellis since many of the local settler and miners decided they need more protection after the unexplained death of John Bozeman close to Yellowstone and other political problems throughout the area. Today, there is not much left of the fort that once protected the area. It is now home to the Fort Ellis Experimental Station of Montana State University. Volunteer militiamen established another fort in the area in 1867 by the name of Fort Meagher. Fort Meagher was about eight miles from town on Rock Creek.

Coming into the 20th century Bozeman, Montana is famous for many unique happenings such as a Chinese immigrant was hanged outside the Bozeman jail in 1906, after being found guilty of murder when all witnesses stated that Lu-Sing killed Tom Sing in an act of self-defense.

In 1915, the first federal building and post office was built. The building closed several years later and was used in the movie “A River Runs Through It” in 1992. The movie was created by Robert Redford and the star was Brad Pitt. Today, the building is the home of HRDC, which is a community organization.

Bozeman is also famous for the filming of two episodes of Star Trek: Enterprise, Carbon Creek and Desert Crossing. In the movie Star Trek: First Contact Bozeman was the name of the fictional location where the Vulcans and Humans first met. In Star Trek: The Next Generation episode Cause and Effect a starship was named after the town, the USS Bozeman.

There are many famous people that were born or lived in Bozeman which include

Loren Acton an astronaut and physicist, Brannon Braga the writer and producer of Star Trek, Deborah Butterfield a sculptor known for use of horses in artwork which is displayed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gary Cooper an actor,

Zales Ecton a republican politician in the 1930's, Peter Fonda an actor, director, writer, and producer, Ben Mikaelsen an author, Robert M. Pirsig an author and past instructor of English / Rhetoric at Montana State University,

Elizabeth Clare Prophet the co-founder of Church Universal and Triumphant,

David Quammen a past columnist for Outside magazine and author, Red Cloud a prominent chief of Oglala Sioux who opposed the opening of the Bozeman Trail and fought over the vicinity of the future city site, Julia Thorne a writer and ex-wife of former Democratic Presidential candidate John Kerry, Dave Walker a musician, Peter Voulkos a ceramic artist, Ted Turner an entrepreneur and founder of cable television empires including CNN and TBS, Sarah Vowell an author and regular on This American Life, and voiceover actress, most recognized from the Incredibles, Kathy Tyers a writer particularly known for her contribution to the "Star Wars" series and Jack Horner a paleontologist upon whom the main character, Dr. Alan Grant, in the book and film Jurassic Park was patterned.

Not only is Bozeman is quiet place in which to retreat but you and your family will enjoy the many unique sites to see such as the Museum of the Rockies, Montana Arboretum and Gardens, Yellowstone National Park, Bridger Bowl Ski Area, American Computer Museum, Big Sky Resort, and Moonlight Basin.

Bozeman has something for everyone especially the outdoors enthusiasts.