Can you say road trip? Book showcases historic places

By CHRIS PETERSON

Hungry Horse News

Michael Ober’s new book, “Montana Historic Places” is the kind of book that once you start leafing through the pages, you start thinking, “Oh, that would be an interesting road trip.”

Ober’s book is just a sampling of the many places in Montana that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

For locals, some will be familiar, like the Sperry Chalet in Glacier National Park or the Wurtz Cabin up the North Fork.

But others are way off the beaten path and some don’t even have paths to them — you need a guide, or a GPS, just to get there and even then, you might not be standing in the right spot.

Ober said he worked carefully with the editors of Mountain Press Publishing to chose sites that were (mostly) on public lands and that weren’t private homes.

They also wanted plenty of diversity and a few from each region of the state, but there obviously are more in Western Montana than eastern Montana as there are more people, and more buildings, here.

All told, Montana has a whopping 1,100 sites on the National Register, with Flathead County leading the way with 147, Ober notes.

One of Ober’s most intriguing sites, however, is in Garfield County. The Hornaday Camp, about 10 miles south of Highway 200, marks the spot where in 1886 renowned author, hunter and zoologist William Hornaday set up camp where he and others took 22 bison for a display in the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.

The camp itself is more of a concept than a place, as it has no structure, just a barely visible kitchen dugout in the serene landscape.

“We spent half a day trying to find the site,” Ober said.

Other places are a little more inviting, like the Virgelle Mercantile and Bank in Chouteau County, which is still a popular stop for traveling folks today or the Chico Hot Springs in Emigrant.

The last entry in the book — the Snowden Bridge in Richland County, isn’t even on the register, but it should be, Ober notes.

“(It) is noted here as an example of the number of storied historic sites in Montana still to be considered for listing. Snowden Bridge, like so many other sites, are worthy of — and await — inclusion.

Ober is no stranger to history.

He was the director of the Flathead Valley Community College Library for 40 years. He was also a seasonal Glacier National Park ranger for 44 summers.

He holds a master’s degree in history from the University of Montana and also taught Montana history at FVCC. He also authored “Glacier Album” which features many never- before-seen photos of the park.

His advice for travelers?

“Find a point you want to go to Montana,” he said. “Then find a registered site on the register.”

The book is available through Mountain Press Publishing and local and regional bookstores and sellers.