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

Crail Ranch Buildings

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 26, 2021

1. Crail Ranch Buildings Marker

Inscription. Sweeping views of the Spanish Peaks, the Madison Range, and the Gallatin Canyon provided a magnificent setting for Augustus Frank Crail to locate his ranching headquarters. Crail carved out a 960-acre ranch purchasing three homesteads, school lands, and railroad property in 1902. He, his wife Sally, and their three children all contributed to the family business. They settled in the small log cabin while they built the main house, establishing a water-powered sawmill nearby where they milled lumber for private and commercial use. Crail grew a special kind of wheat he developed and raised sheep. By 1934, the Crails’ success allowed them to close the sawmill and switch to raising cattle. Most area ranchers who weathered the Great Depression turned to dude ranching, but the Crails continued to run their working ranch until 1950. For fifty years, the ranch structures were the only evidence of human habitation in this meadow valley. Today, the house and cabin are the sole survivors of the once-sprawling complex. The older log cabin has a unique roof of rough sawn lumber three layers deep. The sturdy main residence, built with

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care and skill circa 1905, is of hand-hewn logs chinked with mortar. The marks of the ax used to flatten the dove-tailed logs are plainly visible. The two dwellings, now nestled among modern residences, are a rare monument to early homesteading and a poignant reminder of this bygone era in the Gallatin Valley.

Erected by Montana Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Buildings • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Montana National Register Sign Program series list.

Location. 45° 16.156′ N, 111° 17.742′ 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: 2110 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

A Crail Ranch Building and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 26, 2021

2. A Crail Ranch Building and Marker

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 least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Historic Crail Ranch - West View (here, next to this marker); The Historic Crail Ranch - South View (a few steps from this marker); The Historic Crail Ranch - North View (a few steps from this marker); The Historic Crail Ranch - East View (a few steps from 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.

Crail Ranch Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 26, 2021

3. Crail Ranch Building

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 26, 2021

4. Crail Ranch Building

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 26, 2021

5. Crail Ranch Building

Credits. This page was last revised on February 26, 2022. It was originally submitted on February 26, 2022, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 169 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on February 26, 2022, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.