Dirty Montana Towns Revisited: Many Have Great Things to Offer

A few days ago, I published an article about the dirtiest towns in Montana. Since then, I've received a lot of feedback from residents across the state and learned that the small towns that I apparently "bashed" have a lot to offer.

One of the main pieces of negative feedback I received is that my article didn't provide any actual data or facts that proved that the towns and cities listed were the dirtiest in the state. The truth is, I didn't refer to a study or any data. The article was simply my opinion, and that's it. In retrospect, I should've done a little more research before I put the list together.

In one email I received, I was accused of writing a

Hit piece on small-town Montana, mostly eastern MT.

I want to clarify that wasn't my intention. I wasn't trying to talk badly about any town in Montana, and it turns out that the opinion piece that I wrote was very short-sighted. Many of the small towns on the list have a lot to offer, and I quickly realized that I missed a great opportunity to highlight some of those things.

I received an email from Michelle in Billings, and she asked a question that really opened my eyes.

What is your definition of dirty?  A picture of a few trailer homes from google maps?  (Some people who live in those trailers call them “home”.)

I'll admit, I didn't really consider how insulting my article about dirty towns in Montana would be to some residents. I'll be the first to admit that I was wrong.

Michelle also informed me that Hardin, Montana is home to the largest historical museum in the state, the Big Horn County Historical Museum.

• In Billings, you can take your family to ZooMontana, the largest zoo in the state.
• If you're ever in Malta, Montana, be sure to check out the Great Plains Dinosaur Museum or the Phillips County Museum. If you have time, stop by the Bowdoin National Wildlife Refuge.
• In Butte, learn about the mining history at the World Museum of Mining and explore the Copper King Mansion.
• In Wolf Point, head to the Fort Peck Interpretive Center to explore the rich history of the Fort Peck area from dinosaurs to dam building.
• In Cut Bank, you can learn about the history of Glacier County through exhibits and public programming at the Glacier County Historical Museum.

Many small towns in Montana have a lot o great things to offer. It's worth your time to pay them a visit.