Welcome to the Hardin Montana Picture Tour

Located on the edge of the Crow Reservation, this community of approximately 3,500 is surrounded by irrigated farms on the Big Horn and Little Big Horn river bottoms.  A leisurely walk down the broad expanse of Center Avenue in downtown Hardin, is a treat in June but it gets even better in late June during the Little Big Horn Days. The town lights up with a whirlwind of parades, vendor booths, a rodeo and the famous Real Bird Reenactment of the Battle of the Little Bighorn held south of Crow Agency.  Some of the pictures you see below are from the memorable Little Big Horn Days parade.

Quick History

The land surrounding Hardin was one of the last areas of the Montana plains to be settled. The town site of Hardin was plated in 1907, by the Lincoln Land Company as a shipping point along the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad to serve a former portion of the Crow Indian Reservation recently opened to the homesteading and agriculture settlement. People objected to naming the town Teddy, Montana, after the president, so the town was named for Samuel H. Hardin, a cattleman near Ranchester, Wyoming, and a friend of the Land Company president Morrell. The best way to learn about the landmarks found in Hardin is the use the 26 page “Walking Tour of Hardin” created by the Big Horn County Historical Society. The tour is geared for children but big kids will discover lots of fascinating information about Hardin’s history.

Bighorn County Museum

The sprawling museum complex is a favorite stop of ours because you can actually see the care and thought the Big Horn County Historical Society volunteers put into the site on a daily basis to make it one of the best museums in Montana. You’ll find twenty-four historic structures; four exhibit buildings and the main building, which features a large gallery, offices, visitor center and a gift shop.

The Big Horn County Historical Museum opened in 1979, on a 22 acre vegetable farm located east of Hardin. In 2012 the museum grounds expanded to 35 acres and a new museum visitor center was constructed.  The result for visitors is the feeling of stepping back in time. The beautifully restored buildings look like they are still fully functional and not a sleepy dust covered exhibit. We recommend jumping off I-90 via Exit 497 and enjoy a peaceful picnic as you wander through the immaculately maintained museum grounds.