We’re really enjoying Montana, but on the other hand, we wish it would quit raining. We haven’t had rain every day, but they have just announced that Montana is breaking all the records this year on rainfall. They have even opened up a couple of the gates on Libby Dam to relieve the possibility of having it soon go over the top and really create a problem. So far, all the rivers and streams have just come up to the rim of their banks, but haven’t yet caused any serious flooding. Day before yesterday we moved to a campground in Polson so that we could be a little closer to the big Polson festivities this weekend, and other sites that we want to visit while in the area. Today we spent the day at the National Bison Range. It covers over 18 thousand acres of absolutely beautiful Montana land, and we had a chance to drive through it. We first stopped by the Visitors Center to see some of the displays and learn a little on why the government stepped forward to put this “Reserve” in place. At one time there were over 30 to 60 MILLION Bison (“Buffalo”) that made this area their home and then the settlers came into the area and all the sudden there were less than 50 left on this planet. As we made our way through the hills and valleys of the reserve, we saw deer, elk, antelope, and a few bison all in their natural habitat. Just a little ways outside of the reserve, we found our next stop. We’ve been reading about this wonderful “Mission Church” at St. Ignatius that is sometimes called a “country cathedral”. It was constructed in the early 1890’s by the Flathead Reservation Indian parishioners, with some help from local ranchers, and Jesuit missionaries. What made this stop so very special was the 58 frescoes and murals on the walls and vaulted ceiling. These frescoes were the vision and the artistic work of Brother Joseph Carignano, who was also the cook for the mission. An interesting note was, he was born in Turin, Italy (1873) and died in Yakima, Washington (1919).
16 June ’06, Friday.
We’re really enjoying Montana, but on the other hand, we wish it would quit raining. We haven’t had rain every day, but they have just announced that Montana is breaking all the records this year on rainfall. They have even opened up a couple of the gates on Libby Dam to relieve the possibility of having it soon go over the top and really create a problem. So far, all the rivers and streams have just come up to the rim of their banks, but haven’t yet caused any serious flooding. Day before yesterday we moved to a campground in Polson so that we could be a little closer to the big Polson festivities this weekend, and other sites that we want to visit while in the area. Today we spent the day at the National Bison Range. It covers over 18 thousand acres of absolutely beautiful Montana land, and we had a chance to drive through it. We first stopped by the Visitors Center to see some of the displays and learn a little on why the government stepped forward to put this “Reserve” in place. At one time there were over 30 to 60 MILLION Bison (“Buffalo”) that made this area their home and then the settlers came into the area and all the sudden there were less than 50 left on this planet. As we made our way through the hills and valleys of the reserve, we saw deer, elk, antelope, and a few bison all in their natural habitat. Just a little ways outside of the reserve, we found our next stop. We’ve been reading about this wonderful “Mission Church” at St. Ignatius that is sometimes called a “country cathedral”. It was constructed in the early 1890’s by the Flathead Reservation Indian parishioners, with some help from local ranchers, and Jesuit missionaries. What made this stop so very special was the 58 frescoes and murals on the walls and vaulted ceiling. These frescoes were the vision and the artistic work of Brother Joseph Carignano, who was also the cook for the mission. An interesting note was, he was born in Turin, Italy (1873) and died in Yakima, Washington (1919).
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