The Welcome Penquin
Photo courtesy: John Ansotegui
Overview
County Courthouse
Lewis and Clark Festival
Photo courtesy: Cut Bank Chamber
Cut Bank is the county seat of Glacier County and is located about halfway between Browning and Shelby and about that same distance from the Canadian border. The town was named for the deep gorge near it that was made by Cut Bank Creek. The Blackfeet Indians had described the stream that flows through this area as "the river that cuts into the white clay banks." (from Cheney's Names on the Face of Montana, Mountain Press Publishing Company)
The first white men to the Cut Bank area arrived 200 years ago. On July 26, 1806, Capt. Meriwether Lewis with George Drewyer (Drouillard), Joseph Fields and Reuben Fields camped with a party of eight Blackfeet Indians. At first, the meeting was cordial but the encounter turned hostile when Lewis disclosed to the Blackfeet that the United States government had plans to supply all the Plains Indians with firearms for hunting. This was not good news for the Blackfeet, who until that point had been controlling firearms through their trade relations with the Hudson Bay Company. The Blackfeet decided to make off with the party's horses, leaving them on foot. At this point the only armed encounter with Indians during the entire expedition occurred here, with two of the Blackfeet being killed in a fight over horses and guns.
The cultural diversity and richness that makes the Cut Bank area a special place to both live and visit is highlighted by the proximity of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. The Blackfeet Tribe is arguably one of America's most culturally intact native populations. The area is also home to five active Hutterite colonies. Steeped in centuries-old Germanic tradition, a visit to any one of these colonies is a step back in time to a simpler lifestyle. The Glacier County Historical Museum preserves and educates visitors about the area's history and its people.
The area around Cut Bank is rich with opportunities for those seeking true western adventure. Within a pleasant hour's drive from downtown Cut Bank are more than a dozen different operations offering the enthusiasts their choice of horseback pack trips, fishing/hunting trips, rustic lodges and guest ranches, or any combination of recreational opportunities. With Glacier National Park as our backdrop, it's no exaggeration when we say Cut Bank is in the center of the absolute best in outdoor recreation. World-class fishing, trophy big game hunting, abundant pheasant and upland bird hunting, hiking, mountain biking, snowmobiling, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, camping and much more. With the grandeur and beauty of some of the most pristine outdoor areas in the country within sight, the areas surrounding Cut Bank offer you a truly unforgettable experience.
