Old-time fiddle traditions still fill grange halls and festivals across the state. Montana's identity was forged on the open range, and its culture still carries that stamp.

Homesteaders carried fiddle tunes west from many home countries.

What sets it apart

Barn dances remain a rural social tradition in some communities. For those who know the region well, it is a point of quiet pride.

Summer festivals keep bluegrass and old-time music alive.

Why it matters

What ties it all together is a distinctly Montana balance between wildness and self-reliance. It is a heritage still very much alive in the towns and gatherings of today's Montana.