Big Sandy in Chouteau County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
Big Sandy
While Fort Assiniboine was being built in 1879, McNamara and Marlow erected a warehouse at the trail crossing. It was not until 1886 that Swanson constructed the first commercial establishment, a saloon in a tent. The town was born, with a boxcar for a depot and a one-room shack for the section foreman. The rest of the town consisted of the M&M warehouse and nine saloons, mostly tents on wooden platforms. After a few hours at the bar, the nightly sport was to hook onto the platforms with horses, and pull the saloons wildly across the prairie with tent flaps flying. In hot pursuit were the bar owners, yelling and swearing! It was a rip-roaring town, filled nightly with gandy dancers, cowboys, Indians, soldiers and hopefully nine saloons that provided the only entertainment.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers.
Location. 48° 10.783′ N, 110° 6.655′ W. Marker is in Big Sandy, Montana, in Chouteau County. Marker is at the intersection of Broadway (U.S. 87) and McNamara Avenue, on the left when traveling north on Broadway. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 79346 US Highway 87, Big Sandy MT 59520, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 7 other markers are within 13 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Fort Walsh Trail (here, next to this marker); Judith Landing (here, next to this marker); Cow Island Trail (here, next to this marker); An Island on the Plains (within shouting distance of this marker); Coal Banks Landing (approx. 11.7 miles away); Virgelle Mercantile (approx. 13 miles away); Virgelle State Bank (approx. 13.1 miles away).
More about this marker. The marker is located at the kiosk at the intersection of US Hwy 87 and McNamara Avenue.
Regarding Big Sandy. Big Sandy, MT "For decades Big Sandy's primary landmark was the town water tower, which was visible for many miles. The water tower was dismantled in 1993. As of 2019 some local and former residents have banded together to establish a particularly charismatic and recurring puddle on Main Street (which has been dubbed, simply, "Puddle") as a new and recognizable landmark of the municipality." -- Wikipedia
Credits. This page was last revised on November 12, 2019. It was originally submitted on November 12, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 299 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 12, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.