The past is like a place where you can go and experience a different world. Join an Extreme History Project walking tour for an adventure through time and see the past through new eyes. Here’s a look at some of the upcoming tours. Seeking Fortunes: Bozeman’s Historic China Alley will get things moving on August 2nd at 10am, August 5th at 1pm, August 9th at 10am, August 12th at 1pm, and August 16th at 10am.
The tour will start at Soroptimist Park, located at the corner of Main and Rouse streets.The Chinese were an integral part of early Montana life, fulfilling roles as miners, laundry men, restaurant owners, and purveyors of fresh vegetables. They came to the West, as many did, to find a better life for themselves and their families. Come help uncover this history. Tents to Town: Bozeman’s Historic Main Street Walking Tour will take place August 3rd at 10am, August 7th at 11am, August 10th at 10am, and August 14th at 11am. The tour will start at Soroptimist Park, located at the corner of Main and Rouse streets. Put on your walking shoes and explore Bozeman’s historic Main Street. Learn about Bozeman’s early history through the historic architecture and people that founded our unique town. Family Matters: Bozeman’s Historic African American Community tours will be held August 4th at 1pm and August 11th at 1pm. The tour will start at Beall Recreation Center, located at 415 N. Bozeman. Working as machinists, laborers, laundresses, housekeepers, and porters, Bozeman’s African American community contributed to the building of our city through their labor, religious activity, child rearing, social clubs, and community participation. Follow these founding families and uncover a history that has been silent for over a hundred years.
The Working Class Hero: Bozeman’s Historic Tracy District Walking Tour will occur on August 5th at 6pm. Bozeman was not built by the Nelson Story’s alone. It took a large community of masons, shopkeepers, and brewers, among others, to build Bozeman’s infrastructure in the late 19th century. The tour will start at the Beall Park Recreation Center, located at 415 N Bozeman. This tour gives an overview of the “working class,” or blue collar section of Bozeman.
Murders, Madams, and Mediums: Bozeman’s Dark Side will take place August 5th at 7pm and August 12th at 7pm. From horrific murders to notorious madams and mediums communicating with the spirit world, Bozeman’s darker history comes to light in a walking tour designed to send a shiver up your spine. Hear how “Steamboat Bill” murdered the China woman Linn Lum and Bozeman’s “Week of Horror!” Learn how Mrs. Mounts proved to Bozeman society that she could communicate with the dead. Meet Louise Couselle, Bozeman’s notorious madam whose income rivaled that of Bozeman’s wealthiest merchants. Meet your tour guide in front of the Western Cafe, located at 443 E. Main Street.
The Ghosts of Bozeman’s Past: The Historic Sunset Hills Cemetery Walking Tour will be held August 14th at 4pm. The early residents of Bozeman laid their loved ones to rest, overlooking the town that their toil and labor helped establish. Come learn about Bozeman’s early movers and shakers and the stories that make up the town’s historical narrative. Meet at the entrance to Sunset Hills Cemetery, located off of East Main Street and directly south of Lindley Park. You can register and pay with cash or check at the time of the tour. For more information on the tours or if you have questions, please don’t hesitate to call (406) 220-2678 or e-mail info@extremehistoryproject.org. Tours are $10, $7 for seniors, kids 12 and under are free! The Extreme History Project is an independent non profit (501c3) public history organization that aims to make history fun, engaging, and relevant for community, society and policy. They believe history is an important resource for understanding where we are and how we got here. We must understand these historical processes in order to create our future. Knowing and appreciating history makes a better world. Learn more at adventurethroughtime.org/. •
