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Chapter 8 - Livestock and the Open Range, 1850 - 1887

Additional Information and Resources for Chapter 8

Educational Trunks

The Cowboy Artist: A View of Montana History from the Montana Historical Society. This trunk presents over 40 Charles M. Russell prints and hands-on artifacts that open a window into Montana history by discussing Russell's art and how he interpreted aspects of Montana history.

Woolies and Whinnies: The Sheep and Cattle Industry in Montana from the Montana Historical Society. This trunk reveals the fascinating stories of cattle, horse, and sheep ranching in Montana, 1870 to 1920.

The Grant-Kohrs Ranch Traveling Trunk, from Grant-Kohrs Ranch. This trunk focuses on cattlemen, cowboys, and cattle drives and includes period photographs, reproduction clothing, a videotape on Grant-Kohrs Ranch, books, and a teacher's guide with grade-specific activities.

Websites and Online Lesson Plans

Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site has created a number of lesson plans, including "A Brand is Forever" and "Home on the Range." 

The Montana Historical Society has scanned brand records from 1873 through 1991, and has made the information available through the Montana Memory Project. A brief article "Livestock Brands in Montana,"  published on the Montana Historical Society's "History Wiki," offers information about the brand records--including a little about how to search and read them.

The Montana Arts Council has the information you need to embark on a unit on cowboy poetry. For another approach, see this lesson plan on teaching cowboy literature

"Exploring the West," a project of the Bill Lane Center for the Study of the North American West at Stanford University, has created several intriguing 50-minute lesson plans on cowboys that explore the role cowboys have played in the historical myth of the West.

The website PBS created to accompany its series The West includes good general and background information on cowboys.
 

Videos or DVDs

I'll Ride that Horse: Montana Women Bronc Riders - 27 minutes. (A VHS tape of this film can also be borrowed from the Montana Historical Society.)

Evelyn Cameron: Pictures from a Worthy Life - 57 minutes. (A VHS tape of this film can also be borrowed from the Montana Historical Society.)

The Last Stronghold: The Miles City Bucking Horse Sale, Montana PBS - 30 minutes.

Possible Fieldtrips

Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site, near Deer Lodge

C. M. Russell Museum, Great Falls 

Montana Historical Society McKay Gallery of C. M. Russell Art, Helena 

Range Riders Museum, Miles City 
 

 

Alignment to Content Standards and Essential Understandings Regarding Montana Indians (EU)

Tests and Answer Keys

 

Wherelandwriteshistory

The nighthawk in his nest, photo by L. A. Huffman, Montana Historical Society Photo Archives 981-568

 

Wherelandwriteshistory

Charles M. Russell in studio painting The Lewis and Clark Expedition, 1918, Montana Historical Society Photo Archives 944-706

 

Wherelandwriteshistory

Detail, Bronc to Breakfast, C. M. Russell, Montana Historical Society Museum

 

Wherelandwriteshistory

Detail, Cheyenne Cowboys, William Gollings, Montana Historical Society Museum