Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A M A G A Z I N E • W I N T E R 2 0 2 3 - 2 4 10 W ELCOME TO THE WINTER ISSUE OF DISTINCTLY MONTANA! This is the time of the year that we start planning out the upcoming year of issues. When I was setting up the winter issue that will come out a year from now, I kept staring at the year: 2025. I think this is the most sci-fi-sounding year that we've faced since the turn of the millennium way back in 2000. Good ole' Y2K. Did you shut down your computer be- fore midnight? Maybe we should have just left all the computers turned off on New Year's Day of 2000 and unplugged them forever. But back to the future… Twenty-twenty-five. In many ways, it does feel like we're liv- ing in the future, especially with headlines about breakthroughs in Artificial Intelligence, self-driving cars (that I will never trust), autonomous weapons, and so on. The one thing that will never change about technology is that its progress will never willingly come to a halt. I like to think Montana is one of the last places on earth that will be swallowed up by the great technological singularity if that fairytale (or nightmare, depending on your perspec- tive) ever comes to pass. I hope to still be here, continuing to produce the Last Best Maga- zine, reeling in the stories of Montana's past, present, and future. There's a nice collection of them in this issue, and we're glad that you've chosen to take some time out of your life to enjoy them with us. We promise that you'll be pleased! We love putting this magazine together for you, and we're incredibly grateful that you're reading it. From everyone who worked hard to put this issue into your hands, we send our deepest thanks to you! Without you, Distinctly Montana wouldn't exist. We wish you a wonderful 2024 and beyond! A N O T E F R O M T H E P U B L I S H E R P U B L I S H E R CHRISTOPHER MUHLENFELD, PUBLISHER chris@distinctlymontana.com ©2002-2024. Distinctly Montana is owned and published by Thunderstruck Me- dia LLC, a Montana company. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in any form, in whole or in part, without our written permission is prohibited. Distinctly Montana welcomes freelance contributions—please contact us to inquire about submitting your work. DISTINCTLY MONTANA IS DESIGNED AND PRINTED IN THE USA. Published by Thunderstruck Media LLC • 280 West Kagy Blvd, STE D286 • Bozeman, Montana 59715 www.distinctlymontana.com • info@distinctlymontana.com • (406) 600-7660 WE WELCOME YOUR COMMENTS! The paper content of this publication has been certifiably reforested via PrintReleaf – the world's first platform to measure paper consumption and automate reforestation across a global network of reforestation projects. LEARN MORE AT PRINTRELEAF.COM photo: flickr.com/nicholas_t | CC BY PUBLISHERS Christopher & Pattra Muhlenfeld EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Joseph Shelton ART DIRECTOR / ILLUSTRATOR Robert Rath COPY EDITOR Shannon Page PROOF EDITOR Lindsay Tran SALES EXECUTIVE Larry Sem PRINT MANAGEMENT Pam Koehler, Koehler + Co. fb.com/distinctlymontana instagram.com/distinctlymontana twitter.com/distinctlymt S U B S C R I B E S U B S C R I B E T O D AY T O D AY W E D E L I V E R ! W E D E L I V E R ! SUBSCRIBE TO SUBSCRIBE TO DISTINCTLY MONTANA DISTINCTLY MONTANA MAGAZINE MAGAZINE DISTINCTLYMONTANA.COM/SUBSCRIBE SEND A CHECK FOR THE AMOUNT MATCHING THE SUBSCRIPTION PERIOD YOU'D LIKE: 1 YEAR - $39.95 2 YEARS - $69.95 3 YEARS - $99.95 MAIL CHECKS TO: DISTINCTLY MONTANA 280 W KAGY BLVD, STE D-286 BOZEMAN MT 59715 SCAN TO SUBSCRIBE www.Dis t inc tlyMont ana.com $ 9.95 DISPL AY UN T IL SEP T. 15, 2023 AN EVENING AT BULL HEAD LODGE WITH CHARLIE RUSSELL TELLING "THE STORY OF BUTTE" DO SOME TOURISTS HAVE A DEATHWISH, OR WHAT? RECREATION IN THE PINTLERS S U M M E R 2 0 2 3 VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE BUSINESS FOR A CHANCE TO WIN $500! B E S T O F M O N TA N A B M D I S T I N C T L Y M O N T A N A ' S 2023 www.Dis t inc tlyMont ana.com $ 9.95 DISPL AY UN T IL MARCH 15, 2023 Winter 2 0 2 3 I S S U E O U R 2 0 Y E A RS o f t he T R E AS U R E S T A T E Celeating BIG SKY BRAVERY ABOARD THE MID-CENTURY EMPIRE BUILDER JAMES J HILL AND THE GREAT NORTHERN KNIGHTS OF THE TIE AND RAIL TM TM TM

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