You're Old School Montana if... you've seen old chaps with a Main Street saddle shop's name stamped right into the leather
Montana Before 1950
Before your time. Probably before your grandma's, too.
The years people date by a war, a mine, or a grandparent.
Old School Montana If...
You're Old School Montana if... your grandparents talked about a grocery that let folks run a tab until the crops came in
From the Shoebox
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Remember This?
Coming soon. Know something that belongs here?
Stories From Then
Still Old School · Anaconda · Before '50
Still Old School: Anaconda's Washoe, Eight Shades of Gold and a $7 Ticket
Anaconda's Art Deco movie palace took five years and one Depression to finish. It opened in 1936, turned 90 in 2026, and still sells $7 tickets.
Still Old School · Helena · Before '50
Still Old School: The Parrot Still Talks for Itself
The Parrot has made candy by hand on Last Chance Gulch since 1922. In 2025 the candy apprentice who started in 2018 bought the place, and she'd like to keep it exactly like this.
Still Old School · Miles City · Before '50
Still Old School: The Montana Bar, Where Miles City Turns at Montana
On Main Street in Miles City since 1908. Original tile underfoot, embossed tin overhead, and a neon Montana out front that people still give directions by.
Still Old School · Missoula · Before '50
Still Old School: The Oxford Cafe Never Got Around to Locking Up
On the corner of Higgins and Pine since 1883, and it doesn't close. Still pouring coffee and plating chicken fried steak with JJ's gravy long after downtown locks up.
Montana Originals
Montana Original
Historic Miles City Saddlery
The phone still rings about old chaps.
Montana Original
Missoula Club
Warm beer, cold burgers. Allegedly.
Montana Original
Reynolds Market
Not every grocery store gets a dance for its birthday.
Montana Original
Showdown Montana
Park, ride, drive home, tell everybody at work.
Still Around From Then
Been Here Awhile
Bale of Hay Saloon
Named after the livery next door. Montana didn't overthink names.
Made to Last
Borrie's
Thousands of ravioli a week, by hand. Somebody check on the wrists.
They Don't Make 'Em Like This
Club Moderne
America's favorite historic bar, briefly on fire.
Been Here Awhile
Cooke City Store
The cash register still cranks. By hand.
Still Kicking
Duck Inn
A steak place on an old meat market site. Fitting.
Made to Last
Ford's Department Store
Some people retire. Tom sold shoes.
Been Here Awhile
Great Northern Bar & Grill
A railroad bar that turned into the town's default.
Montana Original
Historic Miles City Saddlery
The phone still rings about old chaps.
Still Kicking
Hotel Finlen
A hotel that's still a hotel. In Uptown Butte, that counts.
Worth the Drive
Jersey Lilly
Bean soup in a bank vault town. The outhouses are labeled.
Been Here Awhile
Judith Cinema
Two big remodels in a century. Nobody can accuse it of rushing.
Somehow Still Here
Kalispell Grand Hotel
Eight downtown hotels once. One left.
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