Roadside Wanderings

Ride along with Missoulian photographer Kurt Wilson on an epic road trip through Montana

[kurtdwilson]

photo by @kurtdwilson #roadsidehistorymt A field of stubble is intentionally burned last night off Highway 80 between Geraldine and Fort Benton. I’m on my way home this evening after finishing up the north central region of my tour of the roadside historical markers in the state with stops today in Fort Benton, Loma, Belt, Great Falls, Black Eagle, Sun River and Fort Shaw. I’ll post more from the trip in the next few days as I edit for publication in the Missoulian newspaper and at Missoulian.com. It’s been a great ride and I hope you’ve been enjoying following along. #montana #montanamoment #montanaroadtrip #406 #igmontana #igersmontana (at Highway 80)

[kurtdwilson]

photo by @kurtdwilson #roadsidehistorymt Main Street in Tracy, Montana. #montana #montanamoment #montanaroadtrip #mainstreet #406 #igmontana #igersmontana (at Tracy, Montana)

[kurtdwilson]

photo by @kurtdwilson #roadsidehistorymt It took a government background check for me to get under this old Minuteman III missle at Malmstrom Air Force Base, but the clouds cooperated. #montana #montanamoment #montanaroadtrip #406 #igmontana #igersmontana (at Malmstrom Air Force Base)

[kurtdwilson]

photo by @kurtdwilson #roadsidehistorymt Black Eagle, Montana #montana #montanamoment #montanaroadtrip #406 #igmontana #igersmontana #redwhiteandblue (at Black Eagle, Montana)

[kurtdwilson]

photo by @kurtdwilson #roadsidehistorymt Square Butte, one the most recognizable landscapes in Montana, is silhouetted against the sunset this evening. #montana #montanamoment #montanaroadtrip #406 #igmontana #igersmontana #squarebutte (at Square Butte, Montana)

[kurtdwilson]

photo by @kurtdwilson #roadsidehistorymt I wonder how that goes, if you were born here, every time someone asks where you’re from. “I was born in Straw. I grew up in Straw. I was raised in Straw. I come from Straw. I live in Straw. I’m from Straw.” I gotta keep driving, so I won’t be staying in Straw tonight, but you can add your own. #montana #montanamoment #montanaroadtrip #406 #igmontana #igersmontana #straw (at Straw, Montana)

[kurtdwilson]

photo by @kurtdwilson #roadsidehistorymt Happy May Day! Just past the location for a roadside historical sign about Yogo Sapphies, I met a different gem of Montana in Moccasin this morning. Julia Ashcraft, 93, greets the day holding a bouquet left on her front porch by her daughter, Susan. Happy May Day! #montana #montanamoment #montanaroadtrip #mayday #406 #406 #igmontana #igersmontana (at Moccasin, Montana)

[kurtdwilson]

photo by @kurtdwilson #roadsidehistorymt I drove to the roadside historical sign pullout just west of Hobson this morning and no sign there, but at the same turnout, I found this whimsical Medusa made of hay, wood and a few fishing lures. #montana #montanamoment #montanaroadtrip #406 #hay #snakes #igmontana #igersmontana (at Hobson, Montana)

[kurtdwilson]

photo by @kurtdwilson #roadsidehistorymt A farmer works in the evening sun today preparing his field near Lewistown for planting. #montana #montanamoment #montanaroadtrip #406 #igmontana #igersmontana #farming #farms # (at Lewistown, Montana)

[kurtdwilson]

photo by @kurtdwilson #roadsidehistorymt Abandoned swingset on the prairie off secondary Highway 236. #montana #montanamoment #montanaroadtrip #406 (at Highway 236)

[kurtdwilson]

photo by @kurtdwilson #roadsidehistorymt Fifty-seven Cadillac behind the Rainbow Bar in Hilger. #montana #montanamoment #montanaroadtrip #406 #igmontana #igersmontana #cadillac (at Hilger, Montana)

[kurtdwilson]

photo by @kurtdwilson #roadsidehistorymt My shadow chasing me through the wheat stubble along Highway 240 south of Chinook last night. Today, I’m headed south toward Big Sandy, Winifred, Hilger and Lewistown. I’ll be sharing what I find so stayed tuned. #montana #montanaroadtrip #406 #igmontana #igersmontana (at Highway 240)

[kurtdwilson]

photo by @kurtdwilson #roadsidehistorymt Lane Allen practices his lariat skills outside his home in Fort Belknap Agency. Lane, 12, competes in breakaway roping and junior bull riding and, he tells me, he’s going to be a star in the Indian Nation Finals Rodeo someday. #montana #montanamoment #montanaroadtrip #rodeo #roping #igmontana #igersmontana (at Fort Belknap Indian Reservation)

[kurtdwilson]

photo by @kurtdwilson #roadsidehistorymt The Blackfeet say it was in these Sweet Grass Hills where Kutoyis defeated Lizard and Frog Man in an epic battle lasting several days to rid the world of evil. #montana #montanamoment #montanaroadtrip #sweetgrass #igmontana #igersmontana #blackfeet #406 (at Sweet Grass Hills Historical Marker)

[kurtdwilson]

photo by @kurtdwilson They call the alley between these two buildings in Shelby “The Fifty Yard Line.” #roadsidehistorymt #montana #montanamoment #montanaroadtrip #umontana #griz (at Shelby, Montana)

[roadsidewanderingsmt-blog]

This is the view from behind Leroy Matvey, owner and driver for the Ovando River Shuttle service. After shooting this photograph, Matvey asked if I would like to photograph his two-story outhouse shaped like a cowboy boot. I had to pass and get on down the road, but I'll be back.

[roadsidewanderingsmt-blog]

Back on the road today on the roadsidehistorymt project. A momentary delay today on Highway 200 near Ovando.