Montana may not have been the first state in the country, but that doesn’t mean we don’t hold the title of any “firsts.” Unless you’re extremely well-versed in your Montana history, there may be something on this list that surprises you.
The Treasure State holds the title of the following:
- The first luge run in North America was built at Lolo Hot Springs in 1965.
Lolo Hot Springs Resort Facebook It was so crude that some called it a “tiny piece of suicide,” so needless to say, it isn’t there anymore. But people who remember it and know where to look can point out traces of its remains on the property.
- The first heart monitor was invented by a Montanan.
Wikipedia Norman Holter was born and raised in Helena, eventually inventing the Holter monitor.
- Yellowstone National Park — which we share with Wyoming but still claim, in part, as our own — was the first national park in the country.
Nicholas Trandem / Flickr And it’s still one of the best.
- You know those Gideon bibles you see in hotel rooms? Montana started that trend.
mliu92 / Flickr The first placement was made by Archie Bailey, who was a Gideon and a regular guest at the Superior Hotel.
- Montana was home to the first-ever professional extreme skier.
Zach Dischner / Flickr Scot Schmidt was born in Helena.
- In 2013, Montana made history by being the first state to pass a law to prevent the government from spying on anyone in the state by tracking personal information stored in their electronic devices.
Michael / Flickr We’re all about freedom and privacy here.
- And, of course, Montana was the first state to send a woman to Congress.
Wikipedia Jeannette Rankin served two terms and was first elected in 1917.
Were any of these facts surprising? Read on for more little-known tidbits about the Treasure State.
Lolo Hot Springs Resort Facebook
It was so crude that some called it a “tiny piece of suicide,” so needless to say, it isn’t there anymore. But people who remember it and know where to look can point out traces of its remains on the property.
Wikipedia
Norman Holter was born and raised in Helena, eventually inventing the Holter monitor.
Nicholas Trandem / Flickr
And it’s still one of the best.
mliu92 / Flickr
The first placement was made by Archie Bailey, who was a Gideon and a regular guest at the Superior Hotel.
Zach Dischner / Flickr
Scot Schmidt was born in Helena.
Michael / Flickr
We’re all about freedom and privacy here.
Jeannette Rankin served two terms and was first elected in 1917.
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