Montana's oldest bars still pour beneath pressed-tin ceilings and mining-era back bars. Montana's identity was forged on the open range, and its culture still carries that stamp.

Some Montana saloons have operated continuously since territorial days.

What sets it apart

Ornate back bars were often shipped in by riverboat and rail. It is the kind of specific that turns a passing curiosity into a lasting fascination.

These rooms remain gathering places in small ranch towns.

Why it matters

In the end, the story here is really a story about the northern Rockies and the people drawn to them. It is a heritage still very much alive in the towns and gatherings of today's Montana.