Hungry Horse in Flathead County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
The Legend of Hungry Horse
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 2, 2013
1. The Legend of Hungry Horse Marker
Two husky freight horses, Tex and Terry, working in the rugged wilderness of the Flathead Rivers South Fork area, wandered away from their sleigh during the severe winter of 1900-1901. After struggling for a month in belly-deep snow, they were found almost starved and so weak considerable care and feeding were required before they were strong enough to be led back to civilization.
The name Hungry Horse was given to a mountain, a lake, a creek in the vicinity of where the incident occurred, and later to the dam and town which are located a short distance downstream.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1900.
Location. 48° 23.133′ N, 114° 3.766′ W. Marker is in Hungry Horse, Montana, in Flathead County. It is at the intersection of U.S. 2 and Main Street, on the right when traveling east on U.S. 2. Marker is located in a small plaza between Main Street and Mountain Drive. Marker is atop a short concrete pedestal. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8859 U.S
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in Western Montana and in Glacier Country. It is also in the American Mountain West and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor. Globally, it is in North America, the Rocky Mountains, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once Ruperts Land and also the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 6 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Hungry Horse Clearing Ball (a few steps from this marker); Surrounded by Wilderness (approx. 1.8 miles away); Berne Roadside Park (approx. 1.8 miles away); Bad Rock Canyon (approx. 1.9 miles away); Historic Belton Depot (approx. 8.6 miles away); Belton Chalet (approx. 8.6 miles away).
More about this marker. The marker is engraved on a metal placard that is worn and weathered, making it somewhat difficult to read.
Also see . . . Hungry Horse, Montana. Discover Montana website entry (Submitted on January 5, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 2, 2013
2. Hungry Horse Dam Sign
Hungry Horse Dam is just southwest of town, about 4 miles from the marker
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 2, 2013
3. Hungry Horse Dam
Credits. This page was last revised on February 14, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 24, 2017, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 3,828 times since then and 275 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 24, 2017, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
