Crazy Mountain
Museum, P.O. Box 83, Big Timber, MT 59011.
The Sweet Grass Museum Society has its roots in the Pioneer
Society founded in the early 1900's. A permanent home was built
in the 1990's and named Crazy Mountain Museum. It is located
south of Big Timber on Cemetery Road.
The museum has evolved from a display facility located in a
building on McLeod Street. In addition to displays, it now boasts
a research area, including a large master index with over 5,500
surnames for individuals mentioned in a wide variety of documents
and pictures. In early 2002, volunteers completed indexing Big
Timber newspapers dating back to the 1890's. Individuals willing
to do lookups at the museum are listed at the bottom of the page.
Although regular hours are maintained only during the summer,
staff is available year round to answer questions or arrange
tours. The museum is now online. Contact them at: [email protected].
New Exhibits
From The New Breeze: New Exhibits for 2009: In the
Veterans Hall: Virgil Gust Military Exhibit; In the Large Exhibit
Room: Cameras, Judy Cosgriff's Singer Sewing Machine and Notions,
All New Gene Barbieri Native American Items; In the Pioneer
Memorial Gallery: Baby shoes, Baby Furniture including Wagner
Family buggy & high chair from the Elgen family; In the Back
Room: Jewelry Boxes and a Wood Art Exhibit in August and
September.
The Sweet Grass County Museum Society and Crazy Mountain
Museum publish a newsletter "The New Breeze". It
includes information about the museum, new acquisitions,
historical photos and articles.
The Museum Society welcomes new members. There are three
levels of membership: General, $10; Donor, $25; and Founder,
$100. Memberships include a subscription to "The New
Breeze". Make checks payable to the Sweet Grass Museum
Society and mail to: P.O. Box 83, Big Timber, MT 59011.
Memorial Day Festival
The
annual spring festival is held every Memorial Day, at the Crazy
Mountain Museum. This event has become a tradition for the
community.
An excellent lunch featuring
Montana beef and Norwegian goodies highlight the festival. There
will also be a silent auction and entertainment.
A growing
exhibit at the museum is a flower garden of native plants
including Purple Prairie Clover, Bitterroot, and Mockorange.
Other exhibits have been updated and continue to fascinate
guests at the Museum. The Schoolhouse, Norwegian Stabbur,
Cobblestone City, Cremer Rodeo, and many more. Plan to attend and
bring your youngsters. The Crazy Mountain Museum is supported by
donations, memberships, and fundraisers. Memorials and donations
are always welcome.
Exhibits
Permanent exhibits at the museum include a detailed model of
Big Timber in 1907 called "The Cobblestone City", a
Norwegian stabbur, and a one room school house, formerly
Sourdough School. A pioneer room has many pictures and histories
of early settlers.
A collection of names of veterans from the Spanish American
War through the Gulf War has been assembled by Bill Esp. This
list of 1750 names from Sweet Grass County is on display with
related items.
Research
Microfilm
A microfilm reader has been purchased by the Crazy Mountain
Museum. The reader is a gift from the Donald family through
memorials to Ann Donald. The reader enables those seeking family
and other historical information to access far more data than
previously possible. The museum has many rolls of old Big Timber
newspapers on microfilm.
Research Fees
The first half hour of research at the Crazy Mountain Museum
is free. After that the staff charges $30 an hour for research.
Copies are 25 cents.
7"Montana Sweet Grass County From Melville to the Boulder
River Valley" by Phyllis Smith. This book can be purchased
from the museum for $19.95 plus $4 handling for mail orders. For
more information write the Crazy Mountain Museum; Box 83; Big
Timber, MT 59011.
7Bound volumes of the Big Timber Pioneer from 1893 to the
present.
7Indexed newspaper obituaries.
7Voter registration books from 1889-1940.
7Big Timber police magistrate records from 1902-1971.
Crazy Mountain Museum is open by
appointment during the winter. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day
it is open six days a week from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., including
Saturday and Sunday. Closed on Mondays.
Sweet Grass County residents Rita Esp, Jan Counter and Donna Harkness are
available to do research at the museum. All have knowledge of the
area and its residents. Copies are 25 cents per page. Mail
services require a SASE. A donation to the museum for services
rendered would be welcome.
The
annual spring festival is held every Memorial Day, at the Crazy
Mountain Museum. This event has become a tradition for the
community.
A growing
exhibit at the museum is a flower garden of native plants
including Purple Prairie Clover, Bitterroot, and Mockorange.
