Canget - Red Lodge, Montana

CULTURE & ENTERTAINMENT | DESTINATION RED LODGEHistoryThere are a lot of legendsfrom the past that need simply to betaken for granted and not scrutinizedtoo closely. The legend of John “LiverEatin’” Johnston is a goodexample. Here’s a guywho reportedly earnedhis nickname bycarving out andeating the livers ofmen who harmedhim. Amonghis many frontierexploits, he servedas the Red Lodgedeputy sheriff for aperiod of time justbefore the turn of thecentury. The sheriff’sgig was probablyeasy compared to allthat carving and eating – only his closefriends knew for sure. Still, he gets a nodfor originality and his log cabin nowstands next to the Red Lodge Visitor’sCenter on the north end of town.By the way, how did the town of RedLodge get its name? One theory stemsfrom the fact that Crow Indians usedthis part of the country as a summercamp. They came to worship, rest andhunt – apparently living in lodgesthat were colored red. For the othercouple of theories and some accurateinformation, visit the Carbon CountyStep into the past…Red Lodge’s Historic Walking TourHistorical Museum – convenientlylocated on Broadway and staffed bypeople who have read their historybooks.We know that Red Lodge was officiallyestablished in 1884. Shortly after, in1887, the Rocky Fork Coal Companyopened the area’s first (coal) mine.Finding work wasn’t easy in the late1800’s, so European immigrants movedFor those of you wanting to explore Red Lodge’s historically richneighborhoods up close, a self-guided walking tour is available thanks to the CarbonCounty Historical Society. The tour will take you to the site of the Sundance Kid’s 1897bank robbery. It will teach you about the town’s mining boom and the bootlegging heydaythat followed the bust. It will guide you to the Victorian “castles” of the Hi Bug district andto the once glorious Theatorium decorated with marble statues imported from Italy. Withneighborhoods dubbed “Little Italy” and “Finn Town,” and many buildings on the National HistoricRegister, Red Lodge is a fascinating place to explore.For a copy of the walking tour contact the Carbon County Historical Museum at 406-446-3667.Or, download a copy online at www.redlodge.com/tours.40 FACEBOOK.COM/REDLODGE TWITTER.COM/REDLODGEMONTANA