1. Mike Rowlands, Arch Coal – Arch Coal is seeking a mining permit on the Otter Creek tracts which are located in Powder River County approximately 5 miles from Ashland, MT. Mike will be providing updated information as to where Arch Coal is in their process of seeking the permits.

2. Greg Schnacke, Denbury Resources – Denbury Resources is involved with a project where a 232 mile pipeline will be extended from the Lost Cabin natural gas processing facility in northeastern Wyoming to the Belle Creek Field. The pipeline will carry CO2 to be stored and subsequently injected into the ground. This project was projected to reactivate as many as 275 wells and create drilling of some 75 new wells. Belle Creek is located in the southeastern part of Powder River County.

3. MCAEDC (Mike Coryell/Jack Regan) – Mike and Jack will be providing updates of some of the impacts that Miles City is currently seeing from the Bakken region. While the Bakken is not directly impacting our region, there is a definite increase in traffic between Gillette, WY and the Bakken region. Highway 59 through Broadus is seeing a marked traffic increase due to oil services activity. Miles City is also seeing some definite impacts and Mike and Jack can describe some of the things their region is experiencing.

A lunch sponsored by the Powder River Chamber of Commerce will be at 12 Noon.

Powder River County is in the process of updating their Growth Plan and Land Use Policy. There will be a public input meeting directly following the lunch. Powder River County residents are strongly encouraged and invited to participate in the public input and planning process. Southeastern Montana Development Corporation will be facilitating the meeting.

The 1992 acquisition of the famous Mac’s Museum was a big development. Mac’s Museum was previously housed in the local high school and is now located in a separate building, financed by the sale of a local-interest book consisting of a WPA-financed interview project of pre-homestead era settlers. Mac’s contains over a thousand arrowheads, birds’ eggs, butterflies, geologic specimens, as well as one of the finest and largest, about 20,000, sea shell collection – a real tribute to one person’s efforts. Visitors come away in disbelief that a small town museum could have such a unique collection. This has resulted in many return visits.

A recent major gift and subsequent restoration project has been the renovation of a one-room rural log schoolhouse. Furnished with period school room trappings, it brings back fond memories to all who received their early day education in these (now) hallowed rooms. Another log building just arrived at the Museum. Reportedly the first true filling station in Broadus, its use was short-lived due to the fact the highway it was located on was changed. It has had several uses in its later years.

To note briefly, other major and unique contributions include a Bucyrus-Erie steam shovel which was brought overland to dig coal and gravel in our area. One will also find the county jail, especially constructed for Powder River County when it was created in 1919. Naturally it is a real center of attraction, particularly to the younger generations.

Another major attraction located in the museum is the Ben Patten spur and bit collection. This valuable display has to be seen to be appreciated.

A spectacular vintage clothing display added in 2006 is a must see.

All of the above is just a ‘taste’ of what the Powder River Historical Museum has to offer. No wonder visitors call it the ‘best kept secret’ in small town museums.

The museum is free but accepts donations.

Brought to you by the Powder River Chamber of Commerce in Broadus, MT.

Same rates daily:
$16 for 9 holes
$25 for 18 holes

All day with cart $40.

Tee Times: Not necessary.

The counties western heritage is strongly evident as well with Rodeos, the County Fair, Powder River Quarter Horse Breeders Show and Sale and other western events.  Excursions to the local museum, Reynolds Battlefield and throughout the area offer a look into history that is so close that you can almost feel it.