Near Sand Coulee in Cascade County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)

Coal Mines and Railroads

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 17, 2022

1. Coal Mines and Railroads Marker

Inscription. While not as glamorous as gold, coal plated a critical part in Montana's history. It fueled the railroads, fired the smelters. and heated Montana homes. Much of the state's economy was once based on coal. Extensive bituminous coal deposits were discovered near here in the early 1880s. The coal's high quality drew the attention of railroad tycoon James J. Hill, who constructed a railroad between Great Falls and Stockett in 1888. For decades, the 14-mile spur line carried coal from the mines at Tracy, Centerille, Stockett, and Sand Coulee. The coal powered locomotives, provided fuel for the Anaconda Copper Mining Company's refinery at Great Falls, and was used for domestic purposes throughout central Montana. The coal camps near the mines were wide open towns where "saloons were filled with miners relaxing after (a) hard day's in the pits, and nobody looked ahead much farther than the next pay day." By 1928, the refinery in Great Falls had converted to natural gas and the railroad's steam locomotives burned oil instead of coal. The last commercial coal mine in the Sand Coulee District closed in 1929 and the railroad abandoned

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the spur line in 1932.

Erected by Montana Department of Transportation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Natural Resources • Railroads & Streetcars.

Location. 47° 26.454′ N, 111° 8.786′ W. Marker is near Sand Coulee, Montana, in Cascade County. It is at the intersection of Johnson Road and Stockett Road, on the left when traveling west on Johnson Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4-14 Johnson Road, Sand Coulee MT 59472, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in andspecifically entral Montana in Russell 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 Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Lewis & Clark Portage Route (approx. 5.1 miles away); Malmstrom Air Force Base

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 17, 2022

2. Coal Mines and Railroads Marker

(approx. 5.1 miles away); The Portage Route (approx. 7.1 miles away); Upper Portage Camp (approx. 7.1 miles away); Welcome to the Upper Portage Overlook (approx. 7.1 miles away); Lewis's Grand Experiment (approx. 7.1 miles away); White Bear Islands (approx. 7.1 miles away); Ursuline Academy (approx. 7.2 miles away).

Credits. This page was last revised on May 6, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 6, 2024, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 212 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 6, 2024, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.