Montana
The western portion of this great state rises up in tall, rugged Rocky Mountain
country. These mountains have provided Montana its name, and yielded a fortune
of gold and silver since the first substantial deposits were discovered in the
early 1860's. Today, the mountains attract people for their natural splendor.
Glacier National Park is a destination for many, with majestic peaks shaped by
massive glacial ice. Rising cliffs and waterfalls offer spectacular beauty here.
And Montana's Yellowstone National Park delights visitors with incredible scenery,
waterfalls, geysers, and lakes. That's Montana!
Big Sky Country: A relatively recent
nickname, "Big Sky Country" originated with a 1962 promotion of the
Montana State Highway Department. It is a reference to the unobstructed skyline
in the state that seems to overwhelm the landscape at times. The name came from
a book by Alfred Bertram Guthrie Jr., Big Sky, recalled by a Highway Department
employee. Mr. Guthrie gave the Highway Department permission to use the name and
Montana has been "Big Sky Country" ever since. The legend "Big
Sky Country" appeared on Montana license plates from 1967 to 1975. This was
shortened to "Big Sky" on license plates stamped from 1976 to 2000.
The Treasure State: One of the more
popular nicknames for Montana, "The Treasure State" or "Treasure
State" legend was featured on standard license plates from 1950 to 1966.
Montana is referred to as the "Treasure State because of it's rich mineral
reserves. Mining has been an economic cornerstone of the state and the state's
motto "Oro y Plata," Spanish for gold and silver, refers to two of the
minerals that gave rise to the nickname.
The Bonanza State: Like "The
Treasure State," this nickname highlights Montana's mineral wealth. This
name is said to have been given to the state by Judge John Wasson Eddy and is
in direct reference to Montana's many "bonanza" mines. |
