Lighting crashed in every direction as I cruised down I-94 from Medora to Billings. With an unexpected outbreak of severe thunderstorms, my two hands locked firmly onto the wheel in a death grip as my car skipped from puddle to puddle. When I arrived in Miles City, I gladly sought refuge at the Range Riders Museum.
I found the entrance in a quaint log cabin connected to large Western-inspired buildings. Several outbuildings flanked the museum to create a makeshift village of yesteryear. Ready to seek shelter from the storm, I threw on my raincoat and headed inside!
Once I paid the admission fee, a docent handed me a map. It’s easy to miss cool artifacts in this maze-like museum, so she pointed out the best path for exploration.
A Step Back In Time
Just inside the museum, history came to life in this reproduction of Old Milestown circa 1877. Near the MacQueen House, I found a tiny black button. Of course, I hit the button. Moments later, an historian’s voice rang through the room drawing attention to key features as he told the story of Milestown’s people, vocation, and culture.
This expansive collection included all of those things I expect from a museum like this—including weapons, photographs, and saddles.
Unexpected Goodies
That said, this museum also included a ton of unexpected finds! As a longtime telecom nerd, I delighted in this artistic display of old glass telephone insulators and antique switchboards.
Inside these connected buildings, I explored everything from clothing and dioramas to barbed wire collections and dinosaur bones. Reaching the end of my indoor path, I tightened my raincoat to inspect the outbuildings.
Back To Class
I first wandered into the Pioneer House and then into an old Country School. Deep down inside, I always love it when museums use creepy mannequins to set context. This lovely teacher in the school house offers no exception!
Range Rider’s Famous Wagon Depot
Before leaving, I stepped inside Range Riders Museum’s famous Wagon Depot. Within this pole barn, I admired an incredible collection of antique wagons and cars. While all of these vehicles were all a bit dusty, each one of these timepieces had character.
As I left the museum, thunder rumbled. Moments later, those dark clouds once again let loose over I-94. By the time I arrived at The Northern in Billings, my drive through the torrential downpour got the better of me.
On arrival, I discovered that this same storm system spawned tornados all across South Dakota. Meanwhile, I took a nap in my cushy hotel bed for an hour or so before heading to TEN Lounge for dinner and a drink.
The next morning, I found myself in the company of many travel bloggers who happened to be in town for TBEX. Now that I know this travel blogger conference exists, I may join the next one!
More From This Road Trip
- Road Trip Planning for Solo Travel
- On The Wisconsin Cheese Trail
- World’s Biggest Everything
- Dinosaurs & The Rough Riders
- Hiking Theodore Roosevelt National Park
