Discovery Series Ornament – Montana
Discovery Series Ornament Montana comes from Big Sky Country, where endless horizons meet rugged natural beauty.
Montana’s story begins long before it became a state, with Indigenous nations such as the Crow, Blackfeet, Salish, and Kootenai shaping the region for thousands of years. European fur traders arrived in the 1700s, followed by the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1805, which mapped the area for the United States. Montana grew rapidly during the gold rushes of the 1860s and officially entered the Union in 1889. Its history has always been tied to wide-open landscapes, frontier exploration, and the deep cultural roots of the people who lived here first.
– The Bitterroot flower, shown on the ornament, is Montana’s official state flower. Known for its delicate pink petals, it grows in dry, rocky soils and has long held significance for Native peoples who used its roots as a traditional food. The Bitterroot is admired not only for its beauty but also for its resilience, thriving in some of the toughest terrain in the region. It perfectly symbolizes Montana’s rugged character.
– Another important symbol from the ornament is the huckleberry. These deep-purple berries grow wild in the mountains and have become one of Montana’s most iconic flavours. They’re used in jams, pies, syrups, and ice cream, and locals eagerly await their short summer season. For many visitors, trying something huckleberry-flavoured is a must, since the berries are nearly impossible to farm and must be hand-picked in the wild.
– Camping is represented by the figure sitting beside a warm fire. Outdoor life is central to Montana’s identity, where national parks, forests, and alpine lakes make the state a dream destination for anyone who loves nature. Whether it’s stargazing in Glacier National Park or waking up to the crisp morning air in the backcountry, camping reflects the peaceful and adventurous spirit of Montana’s great outdoors.
I was not able to identify the meaning of the bookshelf on the back of the ornament. If you know the answer, leave a comment!
