TERRY TIMELINE
History, Stories, & Discovery
Joubert’s Landing
The site where Terry is located was first called Joubert’s Landing in recognition of the man who built a supply point along the Yellowstone River for freighters traveling from Bismarck, Dakota Territory, to Miles City, Montana Territory.
Powder River Historic Point | 1876
Take a break from Interstate 94 by taking Old Highway 10 into Terry. You will be able to view the Powder River Historic Point, detailing the fateful journey of Custer’s troops on their way to the Battle of the Little Big Horn. Feel free to stop at the Undaunted Stewardship® interpretive exhibit 7.5 miles outside downtown Terry to gain an impressive view of the Yellowstone River and the Terry Badlands.
The Open Range | 1905
Just north of Terry was the final outpost for the XIT Ranch out of Texas, during the remaining years of the open range. The ranch also shipped cattle north by train, but ended its run in Montana around 1905 after two bitterly hard winters. The ranch then sold off a large portion of its holdings in Texas. A historic Evelyn Cameron photograph shows XIT cowboys pushing cattle across the Yellowstone.
Becoming a Town | 1910
Terry, Montana became incorporated in 1910 and is the county seat of Prairie County, Montana. When the Northern Pacific Railway’s transcontinental rail line arrived in 1881, the town was renamed for Alfred Howe Terry, a General in the Union Army who commanded an 1876 expedition in connection with George Armstrong Custer’s campaign against Native Americans, specifically in the west.
Yellowstone Trail | 1912-1925
Terry is located along the historic Yellowstone Trail. In 1912, a group of small town businessmen in South Dakota undertook an ambitious project to create a useful automobile route across America, known as the Yellowstone Trail. This was at a time when roads weren’t marked, there were few maps and slippery mud was the usual road surface. The Yellowstone Trail Association located a route extending from Plymouth Rock (Massachusetts) to Puget Sound (Washington). The association motivated road improvements, produced maps and folders to guide travelers, and promoted tourism along its length. It became a leader in stimulating tourist travel. During the height of travel, Terry welcomed 85,000 visitors in 1925.
Custer Creek (Saugus) Train Wreck | 1938
On June 19, 1938, Prairie County unfortunately became famous for the deadliest train wreck in Montana history. Forty seven passengers lost their lives in the Custer Creek (or Saugus) train wreck after a heavy thunderstorm filled a normally dry creek bed.
These are just a few of the stories that explain Prairie County’s rich history.
We are happy to share these and others with you!