Montana Maide

04/06/2026

04/02/2026

Jessica Bancroft

07/14/2025

Hey! It’s History Friday!

This week we have a photo of the Belton Bridge getting completely covered by the flood of 1964, and, circa 2025. Spanning the Middle Fork of the Flathead River in Belton, Montana, the Belton Bridge was once the original west entrance to Glacier National Park. Built before modern traffic demands, it was replaced in 1938 by a newer bridge just downstream. The reason? Increasing congestion between horse-drawn carriages and automobiles made the original entrance a bottleneck. So much so that a strict 10 mph speed limit was enforced to manage the flow of traffic.

In a twist of fate, it was the older Belton Bridge, not its modern replacement that withstood the catastrophic flood of 1964. While the newer bridge was destroyed, the Belton Bridge remained intact and temporarily resumed its role as the gateway to the park.

The 1964 flood was one of the most destructive natural disasters in Montana’s history, affecting over 12,000 square miles across the Continental Divide. A combination of a heavy snowpack, an unusually cool spring, and intense warm rains beginning on June 8 of 1964, set the stage for disaster. The breaking of the Two Medicine and Birch Creek dams led to widespread devastation and tragic loss of life, livestock, and property across the region.

Today, the Belton Bridge stands as a functional walking bridge and a symbol of resilience and witness to the power of nature and endurance of history.

Photo: Motana History Portal, 2025 photo taken by library staff, Liz Camarillo

For more Montana history, check out the 978.6 section of the library!

05/07/2025

05/06/2025

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Yellow rumped warbler.

02/17/2025

We're now looking for 2025 Market Sponsors to be part of one of the most anticipated events of the season in Columbia Falls! Sponsoring the market is a fantastic way to showcase your business while supporting our thriving local community.

🌟Sponsor Perks Include:
✔️ 10 x 10 Booth Space-Prime location right at the entrance of the venue
✔️Provided Setup-Tent, table, and 2 chairs included
✔️Prominent Branding-Your banner displayed at the entrance
✔️Online & Social Media Promotion-Business name + link on the market's website, a dedicated Facebook & Instagram post the week of your sponsorship, plus a live video feature from your booth on market day
✔️Stage Time- Opportunity to speak to the crowd about your business
✔️Tax Deduction-Your sponsorship supports our nonprofit mission

Don't miss this opportunity to connect with thousands of market-goers and grow your brand in the heart of Columbia Falls.

Interested? Email us at [email protected] to secure your sponsorship today!

06/08/2024

03/22/2024

Deep Construction Clean 💖