Terrett Butte facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Terrett Butte |
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| Turret Buttes, Twin Buttes | |
Terrett Butte, 2006
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 3,530 ft (1,080 m) |
| Geography | |
 Terrett Butte
Location in Montana
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Terrett Butte, also known as the Turret Buttes, is a cool natural landmark in south-central Powder River County, Montana. It stands out on the east side of the Powder River. People often call them the Turret Buttes because they look a bit like the tall, round towers (called turrets) you might see on a castle or an old fort!
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Discovering Terrett Butte
The first time anyone wrote about Terrett Butte was on September 12, 1865. This was recorded in the diary of Lyman G. Bennett, who was a Major and an important engineer. He was part of a group of soldiers led by Colonel Nelson D. Cole. This group was on a journey called the Powder River Expedition.
Bennett wrote about the beautiful views he saw:
Marched on west side of Powder River, crossing in the morning. The road was generally good, being on second bottom with high rocky mountains on either side the valley, the tops of many being covered with pine. The scenery was truly romantic. The mountains being high and worn into many fantastic shapes, such as ruins, castles, etc.
– Major Lyman G. Bennett, September 12, 1865
He described how the mountains looked like old castles or ruins. This shows how striking Terrett Butte and the surrounding area were, even back then.
Who Named Terrett Butte?
Terrett Butte started appearing on maps in the 1880s. It's believed that the buttes were named after a family. This family, whose last name was Terret or Terrett, likely settled in the area.
Terrett Butte Through the Years
From about 1915 to the 1940s, there was a small country schoolhouse. It was called the Terret Butte School. This school was located along the east side of the Powder River, right below the buttes.
In the middle of the 20th century, the buttes were part of the Swope Family Ranch. Later, from the early 1980s until 2005, the buttes were owned by Andrew L. Lewis Jr.. He was a very important person who served as the 7th United States Secretary of Transportation. Today, Terrett Butte is part of the Held Family Ranch.
Where is Terrett Butte?
Terrett Butte is located on private land. It's about 200 yards (or about 180 meters) east of Powder River East Road South. This spot is about 17 miles (or 27 kilometers) southwest of a town called Broadus, Montana. It's still in the south-central part of Powder River County, Montana.
