Tucked away, almost hidden in southeastern Montana, the town of Ekalaka requires some work to find. It is unlikely that anyone would just stumble upon it, yet the effort is worthwhile to anyone who’s looking for a slice of mostly undiscovered territory in a municipality that barely covers a square mile. A museum, a nearby state park, and a traditional prairie town setting define Ekalaka.
The town is named after Ijkalaka, a Native American woman who married rancher David Harrison Russell, the first white settler in the area.
Jimmy Emerson/Flickr The correct pronunciation is “EE-kah-lack-ah.” Would you have guessed that?
The size and scope of the Carter County Museum almost defy the nature of Ekalaka.
Jimmy Emerson/flickr It seems larger than life in this small town, but that’s appropriate. The same description applies to the dinosaurs that once roamed this area. The museum was the first to display dinosaur fossils found in Montana.
The Carter County Museum has developed a niche in the world of paleontology.
Jimmy Emerson/Flickr The annual Dino Shindig in July is both a scientific gathering and a community celebration, with various activities that include a “bat walk” to see modern-day creatures.
Located on both sides of Montana Highway 7, the park features sandstone formations with a defining characteristic of “Swiss cheese” holes that have evolved over centuries.
John Manard/flickr
Natural arches are a common feature of Medicine Rocks State Park, located 12 miles from Ekalaka.
Federica Grassil/Moment Getty Images
The Chalk Buttes, with a high point of 4,140 feet, rise modestly above the prairie, close to the borders of Wyoming, North Dakota, and South Dakota, and far from any towns of significant size.
Matt Levin/Flickr Examples of mileage from Ekalaka include Miles City, Montana (113); Dickinson, North Dakota (151); and Rapid City, South Dakota (164).
The legend of the founding of Ekalaka includes the settler’s theory that “Any place in Montana is a good place to open a saloon.” The town has fewer than 400 residents, but it is capable of accommodating visitors, for meals, refreshments, and overnight stays. Getting there requires exiting the interstate highways in the region, but state roads will get you there.
Jimmy Emerson/Flickr
The correct pronunciation is “EE-kah-lack-ah.” Would you have guessed that?
Jimmy Emerson/flickr
It seems larger than life in this small town, but that’s appropriate. The same description applies to the dinosaurs that once roamed this area. The museum was the first to display dinosaur fossils found in Montana.
The annual Dino Shindig in July is both a scientific gathering and a community celebration, with various activities that include a “bat walk” to see modern-day creatures.
John Manard/flickr
Federica Grassil/Moment Getty Images
Matt Levin/Flickr
Examples of mileage from Ekalaka include Miles City, Montana (113); Dickinson, North Dakota (151); and Rapid City, South Dakota (164).
Have you ever visited Ekalaka? Let us know in the comments!
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Address: Ekalaka, MT 59324, USA
