Montana
7 Most Unconventional Towns In Montana
Millions of Americans and visitors from all over the world come every year to Montana, and perhaps most know the Big Sky Country state for its access to renowned national parks, like Glacier and Yellowstone. But it offers so much more. A confluence of cultural forces has shaped this region — from the Native American traditions to the gold rushes — and it is that Old West spirit that Montana’s residents have proudly kept alive. In Montana, we’ve discovered seven of the most unconventional towns. They dot the Montana map, inviting visitors to experience and be fully immersed in the state’s heritage and traditions.
Philipsburg brings a bygone mining era back to life. Red Lodge is the ultimate rugged alpine experience. Bigfork is valued for its art scene and summer theater. Livingstone is the “Gateway to Yellowstone.” Virginia City is a well-preserved gold rush historical experience. Whitefish is a haven for outdoorsy types, but it also has a touch of sophistication. Fort Benton, is remembered as the “Birthplace of Montana.” Join the tour and discover how each of these towns is as unique as the landscapes they inhabit.
Philipsburg
Nested in a verdant valley between the Sapphire Mountains and Flint Creek is the town of Philipsburg, with its dense pine forests and alpine lakes. The downtown is marked by restored 19th-century buildings with colorful frontages. The friendly town has a nostalgic vibe with its antique shops and boutique shopping, such as the Sweet Palace, a candy store. Historical landmarks include the Opera House Theatre, built in 1891, and The Granite Country Museum, showcasing the town’s mining heritage. Sapphire mining at Gem Mountain is a unique experience. The Granite Ghost Town State Park and the annual Flint Creek Valley Days festival with its parade and live music make Philipsburg extra special.
Red Lodge
With access to Beartooth Highway, what has been dubbed “the most beautiful drive in America,” Red Lodge is an exceptional town. The downtown boasts of Wild West-style architecture, with saloons, eateries and art galleries. Historical landmarks are The Carbon County Historical Society and Museum, displaying the town’s ranching and mining history. Commercial attractions include the Yellowstone Wildlife Sanctuary. The town is settled at the base of the Beartooth Mountains and surrounded by rolling meadows.
Bigfork
Enveloped by forests, rolling hills and settled along the northeastern shore of Flathead Lake is the town of Bigfork. Bigfork’s downtown blends rustic log cabins with modern designs. The charming town is lined with bistros, galleries and shops. The town has a thriving art scene, annual events like the Bigfork Festival of the Arts, brings the whole community together. Wayfarers State Park provides breathtaking views of Flathead Lake and is rich in Native American history. One thing that is special about this town is The Bigfork Summer Playhouse, a seasonal theater that has given the town the nickname “Montana’s Broadway.”
Livingston
Downtown Livingston with its turn-of-the-century brick buildings hosting quirky cafes, bars and bookshops, presents residents and visitors with a relaxed, artsy vibe. The town is prized as a “foodie paradise” with local favorites like Fainting Goat Pub and Engine Room Deep Dish Pizza. Lying along the Yellowstone River, the small town is surrounded by the Crazy and Absaroka mountains. One thing that stands out is Livingston hosts an annual famous rodeo and has become known as the “Gateway to Yellowstone.” The Livingston Depot Center is a restored train station, which showcases the town’s railroad history. Livingston is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts with activities like fly-fishing, hiking and, of course, access to Yellowstone National Park.
Virginia City
Once known as “Fourteen Mile City,” the gold rush era town of Virginia City is based in a valley and surrounded by sagebrush hills and the Tobacco Root Mountains. During its heyday period the town was regarded as a social center and transportation hub in the region. Today the entire town is a historic site. Something that makes Virginia City unusual is the town actors that bring the mid-1800s to life again. The small settlement feels like a well-preserved ghost town with its wooden sidewalks, saloons, and mercantile shops. Be sure not to miss the Virginia City Opera House and Alder Gulch. Visitors can pan for gold and take a historic stagecoach ride.
Whitefish
The town of Whitefish has a unique tradition, known as their annual Huckleberry Days, which celebrates the local berry. A gateway to Glacier National Park, surrounded by forests and lakes with views of Big Mountain, Whitefish is plentiful in natural beauties, with much to explore and see. The downtown combines rustic architecture with a sophisticated modern touch. Be sure to check out the Whitefish Farmers’ Market, along with the many fine dining options and boutiques. Big Mountain has the best skiing in the winter and the tail rides through Bar W Guest Ranch are second to none. No visit to Whitefish is complete without some time by or on the water. Whitefish City Beach is a great place for the whole family to play. The Great Northern Railway Depot and Whitefish Lake State Parks are historical landmarks.
Fort Benton
When visitors drive past herds of antelope and deer while enjoying majestic views in all directions, they quickly come to understand why Fort Benton has been praised for its beauty by both Forbes and National Geographic Traveler. Located along the Missouri River and surrounded by rolling planes and the region’s rich agricultural land, Fort Benton is a gem of a town. Fort Benton’s downtown blends well-maintained frontier-era buildings and modern designs. Landmarks include The Lewis and Clark Memorial and the Museum of the Upper Missouri, which display the town’s role in westward expansion. Be sure to book boat tours with groups like Upper Missouri River Guides for excursions along the Missouri River that showcase views of bluffs and local wildlife.
Parting Thoughts
Montana is the fourth-largest state in the U.S., covering over 147,000 square miles. Its name comes from the Spanish word montaña, meaning “mountain,” reflecting its dramatic landscapes. The Missouri River, one of North America’s longest rivers, begins in Montana. The state experiences a range of weather, from snowy winters to warm summers. Rich in history, Montana was once home to Native American tribes like the Crow and Blackfeet. Today, it’s celebrated for its outdoor recreation, including hiking, fishing, and skiing. These seven most unconventional towns in Montana are each marked out for something special in their natures, which have become woven together into the cultural tapestry of this Old West state. From world class national parks to outstanding natural wonders to rich Native American and gold rush histories, these towns are quintessentially Montana.
WASHINGTON ― Montana Republican Senate nominee Kurt Alme, who previously served as his state’s U.S. attorney, cut a plea deal in 2020 that allowed a tribal police officer who sexually abused a 6-year-old girl to serve less than a year in prison and avoid being registered as a sex offender.
Alme, who has President Donald Trump’s backing in his bid for Senate, served as Montana’s U.S. attorney in two stints. Trump appointed him both times; Alme served in the role from September 2017 through December 2020, and then again from March 2025 through March 2026.
Alme oversaw the case of Mychal Thomas Damon, who was indicted in June 2019 by a grand jury on one count of abusive sexual contact with an individual under 12, which carries a maximum punishment of a lifetime in prison, a $250,000 fine and no less than five years to a lifetime of supervised release. The average sentence for this crime is less severe, but still significant: 62 months in prison, no fine and 143 months of supervised release, based on an analysis of 2025 data provided by the U.S. Sentencing Commission.
Damon, 28, had admitted he touched the 6-year-old’s genitals. But in February 2020, Alme’s office filed a plea deal in his case that reduced his charge to felony child abuse.
The changes in the plea deal raised the alleged age of the victim from below 12 to below 14, stripped out the language of sexual intent and moved the offense out of the federal sex crime framework, meaning Damon would no longer be required to register as a sex offender. It jointly recommended Damon be sentenced to the time he’d already served of 324 days, and required only a sex offender evaluation. Alme’s name appears on the bottom of the document, along with a signature by his assistant U.S. attorney, Cassady Adams.
In June, Alme filed a sentencing memorandum that described Damon’s conduct, which included details of him touching the child’s vagina with skin-to-skin contact, and the adverse effect it had on her mental health. Local reporting at the time said the victim had told a therapist “Mychal touched me” and hurt her by putting his fingers in her “hoo hoo.”
Ten days later, Alme announced Damon was being sentenced to time served of 324 days and two years of supervised release. As of June 2026, Damon is not listed in the national sex offender registry or in Montana’s Sexual or Violent Offender Registry.
It’s not clear why Alme reduced the charges against Damon as significantly as he did. During part of his tenure as U.S. attorney, his office declined 64% of sexual assault cases. He conceded in a 2019 interview that this “is something that has to be worked on,” and noted that a lot of these cases are declined due to “weak or insufficient evidence.”
Asked what happened in Damon’s case, an Alme campaign spokesman on Thursday lashed out at unnamed Democrats for trying to make him look bad.
“Kurt’s liberal opponents are twisting the facts to manufacture a fake narrative that exploits crimes against women and children,” said Alme’s spokesperson. “Department of Justice policy required defendants to plead to the most serious charge readily provable from the evidence. Kurt strongly supported the Multi-Disciplinary Teams on our Native American reservations, led by his office, to support investigations of crimes against children and to support victims.”
His spokesperson also pushed back on the idea that Alme unreasonably declined a large number of sexual assault cases during his tenure as U.S. attorney.
“Kurt’s office prosecuted every viable sexual abuse felony referred to it and pursued the most serious charge readily provable from the evidence,” the spokesperson said. “Many ‘declined’ cases were to allow more appropriate tribal prosecutions ― they were not dropped. Kurt will bring his years of experience prosecuting criminals and working with the Sexual Assault Response Teams on our Native American reservations to the U.S. Senate to strengthen investigations, support victims, and better protect women and children.”
The campaign pointed HuffPost to a 2010 report by the Government Accountability Office that found the most common reason for U.S. attorney’s offices to decline sexual abuse cases referred in from Indian country was “weak or insufficient admissible evidence.” It also highlighted statements of support for Alme in an October 2025 press release by Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), when he celebrated Alme being confirmed as U.S. attorney.
Alme is currently running for Daines’ Senate seat, and Daines went out of his way to clear the path for him. In a stunning and orchestrated maneuver, the two-term senator in March abruptly withdrew from reelection as Alme filed to run for his seat, minutes before the state’s filing period closed. Daines’ last-minute change-up was an effort to block potential Democrats or any major Republican challenger from jumping into an open Senate race.
Alme is taking on Democrat Alani Bankhead and independent candidate Seth Bodnar in the November election. Bankhead and Bodner have been duking it out for weeks, with each appealing to different factions of the Democratic party and calling on the other to drop out.
Bankhead, a retired Air Force officer, unexpectedly won the Democratic primary earlier this month, boosted by grassroots supporters and more than $2.5 million in outside money from a progressive veterans’ PAC. But Bodnar, a former University of Montana president who did not appear on the primary ballot, has bipartisan endorsements from prominent establishment figures, including former Democratic Sen. Jon Tester and former Republican Gov. Marc Racicot. He’s also significantly outraised Bankhead and Alme.
This Senate seat is rated “solid Republican” by the nonpartisan Cook’s Political Report, meaning Alme is well-positioned to win the general election. But this race would be more competitive if Bodner and Alme were going head to head, without Bankhead in the running.
Where Khloe Kardashian Stands With Ex French Montana More Than 10 Years After Breakup
French Montana is done keeping up with reality TV.
In fact, he only agreed to appear on Keeping Up With The Kardashians and Kourtney & Khloé Take the Hamptons over a decade ago as a favor to then-girlfriend Khloe Kardashian.
“She said to get on the show,” he exclusively told E! News at the BET Awards on June 28. “And I got on the show. Shout out to Khloe.”
The “Ever Since U Left Me” rapper, who split with Kardashian in December 2014 after eight months of dating, said the experience was “fun” because her family kept it real.
“They filmed their real life,” he continued. “And we were part of something together that one time. So it felt great. It didn’t feel like work because they film what they do everyday.”
As for his future in reality TV, the 41-year-old said those days are over, shutting down any prospective offers with a simple, “Negative.”
Although the “Unforgettable” artist—whose real name is Karim Kharbouch—may not be returning to television anytime soon, he has no problem hanging out with his ex-girlfriend these days.
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