In the beginning this prairie town was a small community built around horse ranching and the selling of horses to cavalry posts that were located along the Missouri River, then came the large cattle ranchers, and then the homesteaders. Culbertson as a town was born in 1887 with the arrival of Jim Hill's railroad, and grew with the encouragement of the Federal Homestead Acts. Jim Hill needed customers for his railroad, and the homesteaders accommodated him. Many got off the train at Culbertson, or at it's neighbor Bainville, Montana.
Culbertson is a ranching, farming community located roughly 60 miles from the Canadian border and 23 miles from the North Dakota border. With the industries that it has attracted, it is one of the most prosperous towns in eastern Montana. The town was named after Major Alexander Culbertson, an early fur trader, and is one of the oldest towns in eastern Montana, established while Montana was still a territory.
Culbertson is a thriving, clean, pleasant town that is prominently located at the intersection of Montana State Highway 2 and Montana State Highway 16 that allows commerce to be transferred to and from Canada, the United States and then on to Mexico via "over-the-road" transportation. And the town is strategically positioned to benefit from future area oil production in the coming years.
The Culbertson Museum and Visitor Information Center has statewide travel information and interpretive exhibits of the homestead era. The museum is open daily from May through September.
The Northeast Montana Antique Association Threshing Bee that is held at Culbertson is a Montana Historic Treasure in Review. The event is a showing of antique farm equipment, and of other antiques of interest. The event is held every year during the month of September, .... and, for close to 30 years, the Culbertson Saddle Club has sponsored it's equally well-known Labor Day Trail Ride and Wagon Train. Contact the Culbertson Museum and Visitor Information Center for details if you wish to participate. I am sure that they will be glad to help you.
As for overnight camping, lodging and a good meal in a friendly place, Culbertson is the place to be.
A view of Culbertson, Montana
a sid blair sketch & a sid blair photo
See Disclaimer @ Eastern Montana .. a perspective