Big Sky in Gallatin County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)

The Historic Crail Ranch - East View

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 26, 2021

1. The Historic Crail Ranch - East View Marker

(Images across the bottom, left to right:) This photo of a bull elk in the cattle feed lot was published in a 1939 Sears, Roebuck and Co. magazine, Johnny Muskrat's Tips For Trappers. After recognizing Emmett Crail for the quality wolf pelts he shipped for sale, Sears asked his to submit a trapping tip. Instead Emmett sent this entertaining photo.; Like most homestead women, Lilian was as comfortable riding a horse and handling a gun as she was with needle-work and cooking. A supervisor nurse at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, Lilian often returned to the ranch.; A ranch hand corrals sheep. The Trails ran both sheep and cattle at varying points over a half century.; Emmett and Eugene work at the Crail sawmill circa 1930s. The Trails erected a sawmill shortly after they arrived in 1902. Over a few decades they built at least ten buildings on their ranch as well as structures for other area ranches and the Rockhaven Church.

Inscription. (Background photograph:)
Barn Complex on the Crail Ranch The barns were clustered in a utilitarian linear plan with the attached system of corrals and outbuildings.

Erected by Montana History Foundation & Gallatin Canyon Women's Club.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 45° 16.162′ N, 111° 17.727′ W. Marker is in Big Sky, Montana, in Gallatin County. It can be reached from Spotted Elk Road near Crail Ranch Drive, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2120 Spotted Elk Road, Big Sky MT 59716, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Yellowstone Country

and in Greater Bozeman.

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 Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At

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least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Historic Crail Ranch - North View (here, next to this marker); The Historic Crail Ranch - South View (a few steps from this marker); Crail Ranch Buildings (a few steps from this marker); The Historic Crail Ranch - West View (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome to the Historic Crail Ranch (within shouting distance of this marker); Crail Ranch (approx. ¼ mile away); B-K (B Bar K) Ranch (approx. 1½ miles away); Lone Mountain (approx. 2.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Big Sky.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 26, 2021

2. The Historic Crail Ranch - East View Marker

Historic Crail Ranch Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 26, 2021

3. Historic Crail Ranch Building

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 26, 2021

4. Historic Crail Ranch Building

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 26, 2021

5. Historic Crail Ranch Building

Credits. This page was last revised on February 23, 2022. It was originally submitted on February 23, 2022, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 210 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on February 23, 2022, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.