Miles City: Rollicking Cow Capital of the Montana Frontier

During its heyday as a cattle town, Miles City called itself the "Cow Capital of the World." Later, after adjacent Fort Keogh was converted to an army remount depot, Miles City proudly shared its identity: "This is Uncle Sam's horse ranch. The employees are all civilians, and the wranglers are cowpunchers and expert riders." Later still, a wild method of gathering and selling horses off the range produced the most recognized nickname of all: "The World Famous Miles City Bucking Horse Sale."

In 1884 the Montana Stockgrowers Association was organized in Miles City, which hosted the event for thirty-four years. Stock thieves plagued open range ranchers, and young Theodore Roosevelt impulsively called for "a war against rustlers." But pioneer Montana cattleman Granville Stuart already was quietly organizing deadly retaliation, and soon his fourteen "Stuart's Stranglers" killed nineteen rustlers in the countryside.

Fort Keogh at its height boasted a garrison and civilian employees totaling nearly 1,000 men. Every night the troopers caroused at the saloons and parlor houses of Miles City. There were frequent brawls involving fists and boots, but deadly encounters were rare. There was one fatal shooting, one throat-cutting, and one lynching. Otherwise, troopers and civilians enjoyed hard-drinking fun. Fort Keogh became known as a party post, complete with balls and parties for officers and ladies - including a memorable evening with John Philip Sousa and his US Marine Band. Meanwhile, Miles City became famous as a good time town, with street dances and frequent parades.

Miles City remains a fun-loving town today, with the "World Famous Miles City Bucking Horse Sale" still its most famous event. The Range Riders Museum displays a wealth of artifacts from the Wild West days, and throughout the town venerable buildings prove that historic architecture is our most tangible reminder of the past. Miles City still is a Western town for cowboys and cowgirls.