Montana Montana Flag

Statehood
The 41st state Nov. 8, 1889
Captial
Helena
State Motto
Gold and silver
Origin of State Name
The name comes from the Spanish word meaning "mountainous" and was first used when the area was designated a territory in 1864.
State Nickname
The Treasure State Montana is called the Treasure State because of its mineral wealth.
Interesting Facts
More than 6 million tourists visit Yellowstone and Glacier national parks annually. Among the approximately 100 species of mammals in Montana are elk, black bears, grizzly bears, antelope, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, moose, caribou, and mountain lions. In 1940 the United States Army Corps of Engineers completed Fort Peck, one of the largest earthfill dams in the world. In the Battle of the Little Bighorn, fought near Hardin in 1876, Lieutenant Colonel George A. Custer and all his command were killed by Sioux and Cheyenne warriors.