List of people from Montana facts for kids

State flag of Montana

Location of Montana on the U.S. map

Montana is a state in the Western United States. It's known for its many mountains, especially in the western part, which is why its name comes from the Spanish word for "mountain." Montana has cool nicknames like "The Treasure State" and "Big Sky Country." Even though it's the fourth largest state in area, it has one of the smallest populations, meaning there's lots of open space! The state's economy relies on services, ranching, farming, mining, and tourism. Millions of people visit famous places like Glacier National Park and Yellowstone National Park every year.

Famous People from Montana

Montana has been home to many amazing people who have made a difference in different fields. Let's explore some of them!

Smart Minds and Teachers

Montana has produced many bright people who have taught others and studied history.

• Ed Bearss (1923–2020) was born in Billings. He was a famous historian, especially known for his work on the American Civil War and World War II. He even served as the chief historian for the National Park Service!
• Norman Maclean (1902–1990) moved to Missoula when he was young. He was a well-known author and a scholar who taught at the University of Chicago.
• Roland Renne (1905–1989) was the president of Montana State College in Bozeman for many years. He was an expert in agricultural economics.
• Lester Thurow (1938–2016) was born in Livingston. He was a brilliant economist and a professor at MIT. He wrote many popular books about economics.
• James Welch (1940–2003) was born in Browning and lived in Missoula. He was a talented poet and historian who taught at several universities. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award for his writing.

Creative Artists

Montana is a place that inspires creativity, and many artists have called it home.

• Rudy Autio (1926–2007) was born in Butte and taught in Missoula. He was a famous sculptor and ceramic artist.
• Deborah Butterfield (1949–present) lives part-time in Bozeman. She's known for her unique sculptures of horses made from found objects.
• Monte Dolack (1950–present) was born in Great Falls and lives in Missoula. He's one of Montana's most popular artists, famous for his fun and whimsical paintings of animals.
• Stan Lynde (1931–2013) was born in Billings and drew popular comic strips like Rick O'Shay. He also wrote western mystery novels.
• Charles Marion "C.M." Russell (1864–1926) moved to Montana when he was 16. He was a very famous Western painter, known for his detailed artwork showing cowboys and Native Americans in the Old West.
• Peter Voulkos (1924–2002) was born and raised in Bozeman. He was a leading artist in abstract expressionist ceramics.

Photographers

Montana's beautiful landscapes have also attracted many talented photographers.

• Evelyn Cameron (1868–1928) lived in Terry. She was a photographer who captured amazing pictures of prairie life in Montana with her husband.
• Frank Jay Haynes (1853–1921) spent a lot of time photographing Montana. He was the official photographer for the Northern Pacific Railway and Yellowstone National Park, documenting the early history of the Northwest.
• William Henry Jackson (1843–1942) also spent a lot of time photographing Montana, especially the Yellowstone region. He took some of the first pictures of important landmarks there.

Amazing Athletes

Montanans love sports, and many have become professional athletes!

• Gene Davis (1945–present) was born and raised in Missoula. He was an Olympic freestyle wrestler and won a bronze medal in the 1976 Summer Olympics.
• Phil Jackson (1945–present) was born in Deer Lodge. He played in the NBA and later became one of the greatest basketball coaches in history, winning many championships.
• Levi Leipheimer (1973–present) was born and raised in Butte. He's a professional road bicycle racer who won the Tour of California multiple times.
• Dave McNally (1942–2002) was born and lived in Billings. He was a successful starting pitcher in Major League Baseball.
• Scot Schmidt (1961–present) was born in Helena. He's known as the first-ever professional extreme skier!

Talented Authors

Montana's wide-open spaces and rich history have inspired many writers.

• Rick Bass (1958–present) moved to the Yaak Valley and lives in Missoula. He's a novelist, memoirist, and environmental activist.
• Ivan Doig (1939–2015) was born in White Sulphur Springs. He was a novelist famous for his stories about Montana and the American West.
• Barbara Ehrenreich (1941–present) was born and raised in Butte. She's a well-known columnist, essayist, and political activist.
• A. B. Guthrie Jr. (1901–1991) moved to Montana as a baby and grew up in Choteau. He won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1950 for his writing about the West.
• Christopher Paolini (1983–present) was raised and lives in Paradise Valley. He's a popular fantasy writer, known for his Eragon series.
• Wallace Stegner (1909–1993) was raised in Great Falls. He was a historian, novelist, and environmentalist, often called "The Dean of Western Writers." He also won a Pulitzer Prize.

Business Leaders

Many people have built successful businesses in Montana, helping the state grow.

• Greg Gianforte (1961–present) lives in Bozeman. He founded a technology company called RightNow Technologies and later became a U.S. Congressman and the current Governor of Montana.
• Ted Turner (1938–present) lives on a ranch near Bozeman. He's a famous entrepreneur and philanthropist who also raises buffalo.
• Dennis Washington (1934–present) lives in Missoula. He's a very successful entrepreneur and industrialist who has helped many businesses.

Important Military Figures

Montana has a strong military history, and many brave individuals have served the country.

• William Wylie Galt (1919–1944) was from Geyser. He was an Army Captain and received the Medal of Honor for his bravery in Italy during World War II. He died in action.
• Donald J. Ruhl (1923–1945) was raised near Columbus. He was a Marine Private First Class and also received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Iwo Jima. He died in action.
• Jay L. Johnson (1946–present) was born in Great Falls. He was a Naval pilot and became the 26th Chief of Naval Operations, a very high position in the U.S. Navy.

Early Military Leaders

Before Montana became a state, many important military events happened here, often involving Native American leaders.

• Sitting Bull (1831?–1890) was a Hunkpapa Lakota Sioux holy man who led his people in resistance against the U.S. government. He played a key role in the Battle of the Little Bighorn.
• Chief Joseph (1840–1904) was a leader of the Wallowa band of the Nez Perce. He led his people through much of western Montana during the Nez Perce War, known for his wisdom and efforts for peace.
• Little Wolf (1820?–1904) was a leader of the Northern Cheyenne. He led his people in many battles and the famous Northern Cheyenne Exodus.

Montana's Pioneers

Before 1900, many brave pioneers came to Montana, shaping its early history.

• John Bozeman (1835–1867) was an entrepreneur who created the Bozeman Trail, a route that helped miners travel to Montana. He also founded the town of Bozeman.
• William A. Clark (1839–1925) lived in Butte and was one of the "Copper Kings," powerful businessmen who made fortunes in copper mining. He also became a U.S. Senator.
• Calamity Jane (1852–1903), whose real name was Martha Jane Cannary Burke, was a famous frontierswoman and scout. She lived in several Montana towns.
• Nathaniel P. Langford (1832–1911) lived in Helena. He was an explorer and businessman who played a big part in the early gold rush and the creation of Yellowstone National Park.
• Nelson Story (1838–1926) lived near Bozeman. He was a "Cattle King" who led the first major cattle drive from Texas into Montana, inspiring famous stories.

Political Leaders

Montana has had many important political figures, including those who served in the state and national governments.

• Ella J. Knowles Haskell (1860–1911) was a pioneer for women's rights in Montana. She was the first woman to practice law in Montana and the first to run for state Attorney General.
• Chief Joseph (1840–1904) was a leader of the Wallowa band of the Nez Perce. He led his people through much of western Montana during the Nez Perce War, eventually surrendering near the Canada–US border. He is remembered as a humanitarian and peacemaker.
• Mike Mansfield (1903–2001) moved to Great Falls when he was very young. He served in the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps, then became a professor, and later a U.S. Senator. He was the longest-serving Senate Majority Leader and later an ambassador to Japan.
• Jeannette Rankin (1880–1973) was born near Missoula. She made history as the first woman ever elected to the United States Congress. She was also the only member of Congress to vote against the U.S. entering World War II.
• Burton K. Wheeler (1876–1945) settled in Butte. He was a lawyer and a U.S. Senator from Montana for many years.

Outdoor Enthusiasts

Montana's beautiful outdoors attracts many people who love recreation and conservation.

• Conrad Anker (1962–present) lives in Bozeman. He's a famous rock climber and mountaineer, known for his challenging climbs in the Himalayas and Antarctica.
• Dan Bailey (1904–1982) lived in Livingston. He owned a fly-fishing shop, created new fishing flies, and was a strong supporter of conservation in the West.
• Alex Lowe (1958–1999) lived in Bozeman. He was a world-renowned mountain climber, and a mountain peak near Bozeman is named in his honor.
• Bob Marshall (1901–1939) worked near Missoula. He was a forester and a strong advocate for wilderness preservation. The large Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana is named after him.

Scientists and Innovators

Montana has also contributed to the world of science and discovery.

• Loren Acton (1936–present) was born in Lewistown and went to college in Bozeman. He is a physicist and an astronaut who flew on a Space Shuttle mission!
• Willy Burgdorfer (1925–2014) lived in Hamilton. He was a medical entomologist who discovered the bacteria that causes Lyme disease.
• Maurice Hilleman (1919–2005) was born and raised near Miles City. He was a microbiologist who developed over three dozen vaccines, saving more lives than almost any other scientist in the 20th century.
• Norman Jefferis "Jeff" Holter (1914–1983) was born and lived in Helena. He was a biophysicist who invented the Holter monitor, a device used to record heart activity.
• Jack Horner (1946–present) was born in Shelby and lives in Bozeman. He's a famous paleontologist who discovered Maiasaura, showing that some dinosaurs cared for their young. He was also a technical advisor for the Jurassic Park movies!
• Harold Urey (1893–1981) studied zoology in Missoula. He won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1934 for his work.

Other Notable Montanans

Here are a few more interesting people from Montana.

• Walter Breuning (1896–2011) moved to Montana at age 18 and lived in Great Falls. He was a supercentenarian who lived to be 114 years old, becoming the world's oldest living man at one point!
• Alma Smith Jacobs (1916–1997) was born in Lewistown and lived in Great Falls and Helena. She was a librarian and the first African American Montana State Librarian.

Fictional Montanans

Montana has also been the setting for many stories and movies, featuring some memorable fictional characters!

• Violet Beauregarde from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is said to be from Miles City, Montana, in the 1971 film version. She's the gum-chewing girl who turns into a giant blueberry!
• Peggy Hill from the animated series King of the Hill was born on a cattle ranch in Montana.
• Catherine Willows from the crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation was originally stated to be from Bozeman, Montana.

Images for kids

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  Historian Ed Bearss

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  Roland Renne, President of Montana State College in 1960

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  Cartoonist Stan Lynde in 1982

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  Western painter Charles Marion Russell

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  John Balistreri (right) assisting Peter Voulkos (left)

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  Evelyn Cameron standing on a horse, circa 1915

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  Frank Jay Haynes at Fort Benton, Montana, 1876

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  Rodeo clown Flint Rasmussen in 2007

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  Writer Barbara Ehrenreich in 2006

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  Actor Gary Cooper in 1952

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  Director David Lynch in 2011

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  Marine PFC Donald Jack Ruhl circa 1943–1945

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  Hunkpapa Sioux leader Sitting Bull in 1885

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  Admiral Jay Johnson while Chief of Naval Operations in 1996

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  Calamity Jane in 1895

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  Nathaniel P. Langford

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  Nelson Story circa 1900

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  Seth Bullock 1893

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  Senator and ambassador Mike Mansfield

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  Politician Jeannette Rankin

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  Chief Plenty Coups circa 1908

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  Chief Joseph in the late 1800s

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  Lawyer and pioneer of women's rights Ella Haskell

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  United States Senator Burton K. Wheeler

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  Dan Bailey, ca 1970s

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  Loren Acton in a space suit in 1985

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  Vaccine specialist Maurice Hilleman

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  Nobel Prize in Chemistry laureate Harold Urey

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  Alma Smith Jacobs at a library circa 1960s

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  Harvey "Kid Curry" Logan in an undated photo

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  Marg Helgenberger, who portrays Catherine Willows, in 2007