Grant-Kohrs Ranch, Deer Lodge, Montana (Thursday, August 15th, 2019)

One of the coolest things we have discovered in the area is right here in Deer Lodge.  It is the historic Grant-Kohrs Ranch.  This ranch has a very rich history, going back over 100 years, and although it is still a working ranch, the historic areas of it have been taken over and preserved by the national park service. And the craziest part is, everything associated with this visit is free.

All you can see of this site from the road is the visitor's center, so it's looks are deceiving.  But once you get back to the actual ranch, it is a historic wonderland.

From the visitor's center, a path takes you under the railroad tracks, back to the ranch, about a five minute walk.

The Grant-Kohrs house is completely intact, with all of it's original furnishings, exactly as the family used it in the 1800's.  The story of this ranch is a rags to riches story, of two incredibly smart men who made their fortunes off of the pioneers and miners coming through Montana. 

The house tour is free if you can get a ticket.  Showings are limited in an effort to keep the house pristine.  No pictures are allowed inside the house, but I highly encourage you to see it for yourself.

Behind the house is the blacksmith's shop where all of the metal work for the ranch was done, complete with everything it had in the 1800's.

The barn is also still completely intact with all of the work wagons, including this full harness for the draft horses.

And all of the beautiful sleigh's and carriages used by the family.

This one came complete with the barn cat who was sound asleep.

The garden is still planted, and the chickens still thrive in the chicken coops.

But the best part of this entire experience were the people that work here.  They are so nice and knowledgeable about the Johnny Grant and Conrad Kohr's and the 10 million acre ranch that they created over four states and part of Canada.  They offered us a cup of cowboy coffee and a comfortable stump to sit on while we learned more than we could ever remember about the history of this area.

We could honestly have spent multiple days walking through all of the buildings on this ranch; the tack rooms, bunk houses, chore boys quarters, barns.  There was information everywhere you looked, not only about this ranch, but also about what was happening in the state of Montana and the United States during the time that this ranch was being built.