Names in the Madison, Gallatin and Bridger Ranges

Enjoy a wander through Bozeman’s Backyard, learning about the ecology and history of these beautiful mountains. Whether on foot or on your map, the citations in this book will give you a kaleidoscopic picture of the land with its whispers of the past and reflections on nature.

We tend to look at the names on our maps as reference tags that just tell you where you are, and identify which mountain, lake or stream that you are on. But the names on this land also tell stories. Enjoy getting to know the ranchers, the miners, the plants and animals, and some of the surprises that were encountered as they explored and settled this country.

Dr. Jeff Strickler was born and raised in Minneapolis Minnesota, but his family roots in Montana date back to the early years of the 20th Century. In 1975, after a pediatric residency at Stanford University and two years in the U.S. Air Force in Alaska, he and his wife Karen returned to those roots. They raised their children in Helena where he opened the Helena Pediatric Clinic and practiced for 30 years. Upon retirement in 2005, they moved to Big Sky to further enjoy the outdoor life of skiing and hiking.

De. Strickler has always had a love for history, and retirement has given him the time to write the books on local history he always wanted to do. His previous efforts include, Big Sky Names, an Amble Through Western History and Ecology on the Roads, Streams, and Developments of Big Sky, Montana: A Skiers Guide to the Biggest Skiing in America, and, with Anne Marie Mistretta, Images of America, Big Sky.

This is the first book published by the Gallatin History Museum Press, all of the proceeds of the sales of this book go to support the Gallatin History Museum.