Montana Myths and Legends: The True Stories behind History's Mysteries - Paperback

by Edward Lawrence (Author), Michael Ober (Continued by)

From a haunted prison in Red Lodge to persistent rumors of bigfoot, from whispered descriptions of the "tommyknockers" who help miners in trouble to a famous union organizer found lynched from a bridge in Butte, this selection of fourteen stories from Montana's past explores some of the Treasure State's most compelling mysteries and debunks some of its most famous myths.

Back Jacket

Mind-Boggling Tales from Big Sky Country Meriwether Lewis hauled the metal frame of his favorite boat all the way from St. Louis to the Great Falls of the Missouri, then discovered it wouldn't float. Is it buried in a riverbank somewhere close to one of Montana's largest cities? Thomas Meagher, a Civil War general and former territorial governor, disappeared in muddy waters outside of Fort Benton. Did he go for a boozy, late-night swim or was he murdered? And deep in the cold, dark recesses of Flathead Lake, a mysterious monster may be lurking . . . or maybe "Flessie" is only a figment of some overactive imaginations. From mummified remains of the Little People to ghost sightings in the old territorial prison at Deer Lodge, author Ed Lawrence makes history fun, pulling the curtain back on some of the West's most fascinating and compelling stories.

Author Biography

As a child, Ed Lawrence's goal was to become Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. However, after flunking out of a pre-law program at the University of Oregon he abandoned that plan and studied literature instead. Then followed a long stint in the corporate world as a marketing type before he experienced life-change #3 and became a writer and photographer. Along the way he took up flyfishing as a hobby, and now combines his passion for flyfishing with writing for major magazines. He also authored Frommer's Guide to Montana and Wyoming, and Frommer's Guide to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks. He lives in Bozeman, Montana.

Michael J. Ober is three generations deep into Montana's history and lore. He was born and raised in Havre, Montana, and received both a BA and MA in history from the University of Montana, and a MLIS in Library Science from the University of Denver. He then pursued a diverse career in education at Flathead Valley Community College in Kalispell, Montana, serving for forty years as library director, academic advisor, and instructor of English, Montana history, and handgun marksmanship. During the summer months he worked seasonally, for forty-four years, with the National Park Service in Glacier National Park on fire crews, as a backcountry ranger, and as a law enforcement road patrol ranger. A long-time student of Montana's colorful past, Michael has traveled back and forth across the state to recreate and seek out places and people connected to the state's culture and tradition. He writes freelance for several regional journals, including Montana Senior News, Montana Outdoors, Steamships Magazine, Montana: the Magazine of Western History, Mountain Outlaw and Big Sky Journal. In 2010 he authored Glacier Album, which showcases vintage photos of Glacier National Park. Michael lives in Kalispell, Montana.