Welcome
to Big Sky Country. This is Montana. Vast plains stretch across the
eastern part of this state, and when those plains go on for miles and
miles and miles, so does the sky. Huge herds of cattle graze on the
prairies. Montana has buffalo, too, and in the National Bison Range, on
the Flathead Reservation, buffalo roam a 20,000-acre national wildlife
refuge.
The
western portion of this great state rises up in tall, rugged Rocky
Mountain country. These mountains have provided Montana its name, and
yielded a fortune of gold and silver since the first substantial deposits
were discovered in the early 1860's.
Today, the mountains attract people
for their natural splendor. Glacier National Park is a destination for
many, with majestic peaks shaped by massive glacial ice. Rising cliffs and
waterfalls offer spectacular beauty here. And Montana's Yellowstone
National Park delights visitors with incredible scenery, waterfalls,
geysers, and lakes. That's Montana!
| THE NAME:
Created out of the Idaho Territory in 1864, the name Montana is a derivation of the Latin word "montaanus"
which means mountainous.
Source: Shearer, Benjamin F. and Barbara S.
State
Names, Seals, Flags and Symbols Greenwood Press, Westport, Connecticut - 1994 |
| THE NICKNAMES:
The Treasure State: One of the more popular nicknames for Montana, "The Treasure State" or "Treasure State"
legend was featured on standard license plates from 1950 to 1966. Montana is referred to as the "Treasure
State because of its rich mineral reserves. Mining has been an economic cornerstone of the state and the
state's motto "Oro y Plata," Spanish for gold and silver, refers to two of the minerals that gave rise to
the nickname.
Big Sky Country: A relatively recent nickname, "Big Sky Country" originated with a 1962 promotion of the
Montana State Highway Department. It is a reference to the unobstructed skyline in the state that
seems to overwhelm the landscape at times. The name came from a book by Alfred Bertram Guthrie Jr., Big Sky,
recalled by a Highway Department employee. Mr. Guthrie gave the Highway Department permission to use the
name and Montana has been "Big Sky Country" ever since. The legend "Big Sky Country" appeared on Montana
license plates from 1967 to 1975. This was shortened to "Big Sky" on license plates stamped from 1976 to 2000.
You might find
Montana
Episode: From Treasure State to Big Sky interesting.
The Bonanza State: Like "The Treasure State," this nickname highlights Montana's mineral wealth. This
name is said to have been given to the state by Judge John Wasson Eddy and is in direct reference to
Montana's many "bonanza" mines.
Land of Shining Mountains: This is another reference to the mineral wealth of the state of Montana with
a toast to its mountains in the west.
The Mountain State: This nickname, of course, refers to the mountains of Montana.
The Stubtoe State: This nickname again refers to Montana's rugged, mountainous terrain and offers a
human connection. Ouch!
The Headwaters State: Montana is known as the headwaters state because much of the water which flows to the
rest of the nation comes from the mountains of Montana. Two of the nation's major river systems, the Missouri
and Columbia, are born high in the Rocky Mountains of Montana.
Source: Shearer, Benjamin F. and Barbara S. State
Names, Seals, Flags and Symbols Greenwood Press, Westport, Connecticut - 1994
Shankle, George Earlie, Phd State Names, Flags, Seals, Songs, Birds, Flowers and
Other Symbols H. H. Wilson Company, New York - 1938 (Reprint)
Department of Commerce, State of Montana, (http://visitmt.com/), April 25, 2004 |
THE CITIZENS:
People who live in Montana or who come from Montana are called Montanans. |
THE QUARTER:
 |
| U.S. Mint Image
|
The first commemorative quarter-dollar coin released in 2007 honors Montana, and is the 41st coin in the United States Mint's 50 State Quarters® Program. Montana, nicknamed "Big Sky Country," was admitted into the Union on November 8, 1889, becoming our Nation's 41st state. The reverse of Montana's quarter features a bison skull depicted above the diverse Montana landscape with the inscription "Big Sky Country." The coin also bears the inscriptions "Montana" and "1889."
The bison skull is a powerful symbol, sacred to many of Montana's American Indian tribes. This symbol can be seen across the State on schools, businesses and license plates, and reflects the rich native tradition of Montana, which was once home to large tribes such as the Crow and the Northern Cheyenne. After a visit from Lewis and Clark, Montana became a destination first for fur trappers and later for gold prospectors following the discovery of gold in the 1860s. Cattle ranchers also made their way west to Montana. This rapid growth in population led to boomtowns. The nickname "Big Sky Country" reminds residents of Montana's open lands and pioneering way.
The recommended design was chosen based on feedback from the Montana Quarter Design Selection Commission, which was created by Governor Brian Schweitzer, and a subsequent public vote. United States Mint sculptor-engravers and artists participating in the United States Mint's Artistic Infusion Program rendered the "Bison Skull" design and three others submitted to Governor Schweitzer. The designs were based on narratives submitted by Montana residents.
The Department of the Treasury approved the design on June 22, 2006. The other three designs considered were "Bull Elk," featuring a bull elk posed majestically on a rugged rock formation; "State Outline," showing mountains tapering to the eastern Montana plains; and "Big Sky with River," prominently featuring Montana's big sky with a river emerging from a mountain range.
For more on the state commemorative quarters, visit this page.
This 50 State Quarter Map is a great way to collect and display all 50 State Quarters. |
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