The Great Northern and Northern Pacific stitched Montana's towns together and opened Glacier to tourists. Beneath the postcard scenery lies a human story as rugged as the landscape.

Railroads shaped where many Montana towns rose and thrived.

What sets it apart

The Great Northern promoted Glacier Park to early rail travelers. Small as it sounds, it is exactly the sort of thing that defines the experience on the ground.

Restored depots now anchor several historic downtowns.

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.