Glacier Country

1hamilton_and_darby_area.gifTRAVEL_MT2004-12-22T11:43:04151YVISITOR INFORMATIONhttp://glacier.visitmt.comGlacier CountryYVISITOR INFORMATIONhttp://www.bitterrootvalleychamber.comBitterroot Chamber10001540<DIV class="cityaspfont"><ul class= "fotocolumn"><li class="brewfoto"><IMG SRC="/Pictures/Cities/Hamilton_downtown.JPG" BORDER=0 WIDTH=222 HEIGHT=140 ALIGN=BASELINE><div class="fotocap">DowntownPhoto courtesy: John Ansotegui</li><li class="brewfoto"><IMG SRC="/Pictures/Cities/Hamilton_DalyMansion.JPG" BORDER=0 WIDTH=222 HEIGHT=140 ALIGN=BASELINE>Daly MansionPhoto courtesy: Daly Mansion</li><li class="brewfoto"><IMG SRC="/Pictures/Cities/Hamilton_Fairgrounds.JPG" BORDER=0 WIDTH=222 HEIGHT=140 ALIGN=BASELINE>County FairgroundsPhoto courtesy: Bill Kuney</li></ul> Hamilton is a county seat for Ravalli county. Named for J. W. Hamilton, from whom the right-of-way for the Northern Pacific line was secured. (from Cheney's Names on the Face of Montana, Mountain Press Publishing Company) The town of Hamilton is the central trade area for hundreds of small farms, ranches, and orchards that fill the valley. The Bitterroot Valley extends along U.S. Highway 93 from <a href="/categories/City.asp?CityID=227">Missoula</a> to the Idaho line. It includes the communities of <a href="/categories/City.asp?CityID=316">Stevensville</a>, <a href="/categories/City.asp?CityID=342">Victor</a>, <a href="/categories/City.asp?CityID=76">Corvallis</a>, <a href="/categories/City.asp?CityID=151">Hamilton</a> and <a href="/categories/City.asp?CityID=85">Darby</a>. Because of its location between the Bitterroot Range and the Sapphire Mountains, the climate in this corner of the state is more moderate than the rest of the state. The valley was named for the bitterroot plant (Montana's state flower) that grew here profusely when Lewis and Clark first explored the region.Hamilton is also home to the <a href="/categories/moreinfo.asp?SiteID=1&IDRRecordID=3132">Marcus Daly Mansion</a> built in the late 1800s. Marcus Daly, one of Montana's colorful "Copper Kings," established <a href="/categories/City.asp?CityID=6">Anaconda</a> with his smelter and Hamilton with his lumber industry. He built his family a summer home in Hamilton, the heart of the beautiful Bitterroot Valley.The mansion occupies 24,000 square feet on three floors with 24 bedrooms, 15 bathrooms, and seven fireplaces. After Mrs. Daly's death in 1941, the mansion was closed until 1987, when it was reopened to the public. It is situated on gorgeous tree-lined grounds along the scenic Bitterroot River and impressive peaks of the Bitterroot Range that run more than 60 miles along the entire length of the valley.<a href="/categories/moreinfo.asp?SiteID=1&IDRRecordID=3133">Ravalli County Museum</a> is located in the original Ravalli County Courthouse built in 1900. Saved from the wrecker's ball by a grassroots citizen's movement in 1979, it is now listed in the National Register of Historic Buildings and considered one of the finest museums for a city Hamilton's size. Collections and displays recapture the prehistory of the county. Highlights include the complete Rocky Mountain Laboratory display on tick fever, extensive archives, Native American clothing, implements and art, period rooms of the Victorian era, an old-fashioned kitchen, a trapper's cabin, and a veteran's display.Elevation: 3,638 feet.<map name="nearbycities"><area shape="rect" alt="Wisdom, Montana" coords="151,201,205,222" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=365"><area shape="rect" alt="Wise River, Montana" coords="218,172,248,196" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=366"><area shape="rect" alt="Melrose, Montana" coords="221,226,249,238" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=221"><area shape="rect" alt="Sula, Montana" coords="81,167,116,185" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=319"><area shape="rect" alt="Conner, Montana" coords="66,148,114,159" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=72"><area shape="rect" alt="Darby, Montana" coords="60,131,107,146" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=85"><area shape="rect" alt="Grantsdale, Montana" coords="77,107,134,119" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=145"><area shape="rect" alt="Anaconda, Montana" coords="163,125,238,151" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=6"><area shape="rect" alt="Hamilton, Montana" coords="66,90,141,106" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=151"><area shape="rect" alt="Philipsburg, Montana" coords="187,80,248,96" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=254"><area shape="rect" alt="Victor, Montana" coords="72,56,110,72" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=342"><area shape="rect" alt="Pinesdale, Montana" coords="28,73,76,89" href="/categories/city.asp?CityID=255"><area shape="rect" alt="Corvallis, Montana" coord206525HAMILTONGLACIER11Angler's Roost RV & Campground157Bitterroot Valley RV & Campground1669Motel 61703Bitterroot National Forest1792Bitterroot Valley Chamber of Commerce1813Quality Inn - Hamilton1815City Center Motel Hamilton1817Hamilton Golf Club1818Skalkaho Lodge and Steakhouse-John Rose Outfitter & Guide Service11812Bitterroot Anglers12776Black Rabbit RV Park & Storage13132Daly Mansion13133Ravalli County Museum & Historical Society13891Whittecar Rifle and Pistol Range16386Super 8 - Hamilton17927Coffee Cup Cafe111900Bitterroot Valley Scenic Drive111956Valley Bicycles and Ski112402Bob Ward & Sons112567Bitterroot River Inn & Conference Center112583Daly Days113001Enterprise Rent-A-Car113141Nap's Grill113275Spice of Life Cafe113890Bitter Root Brewing114017Fly Fishing Always115283Red Barn Bicycles115451Chapter One Book Store116104The Edge Restaurant116156River Rising Bakery116293Bitterroot Fishing Loft117141Hamilton Farmers Market Cooperative117530Cassens Fine Art117547Montana Hunting Fishing Adventures117679Downing Mountain Backcountry Lodge117927Withy Gate Lodgings118436Osprey Outfitters Guide Service and Fly Shop118650The Mangler118833Big Creek Coffee Roasters118901Bitterroot Celtic Games and Gathering119045Cheng Family Restaurant119054Higherground Brewing Company119163Big Sky Reining Classic119851Sleeping Child Hot Springs120634ABC acres120653Burke House120662The Moraine B&B121031Blodgett Canyon121173Sapphire Getaway121469Ravalli County Fair & Rockin RC' Rodeo121587Lake Como121594McIntosh Apple Day121682Blodgett Canyon Cellars121687Shed Horn Cellars121693Westslope Distillery121786The Bitterroot Mile121896Property 1121904Hardtimes Bluegrass Festival122274The Bitterroot Mile Club122310SkyWater Cabins122529Cultured Travel LLC1MT59840