Deer Lodge, MT
We were greeted by the friendly residents...
The ranch houseThe ranch house was originally built in 1862 by Johnny Grant. It was a trading post downstairs, the living quarters were upstairs, and was 4,000 square feet. In 1866, Grant sold the ranch to Conrad Kohrs who became known as the "Cattle King" in Montana. Kohrs married Augusta Kruse Kohrs who transferred the trading post into the elegant, historic ranch house it is today. They did so by adding almost another 5,000 square feet to the house.
There were many exhibits to demonstrate the workings of the once headquarters of a 10 million acre cattle operation. We spent some time drinking coffee and bread made over a campfire at the Chuckwagon exhibit.
The kid pictured above was wearing an Alaska cap. The chuckwagon cook above asked if the boy was from Alaska and he said, "Yes, I'm from Wasilla, Alaska." The cook asked if there was a famous person from Wasilla. The boy couldn't think of anyone so the cook said, "Obama?" The boy said, "WHAT?" He couldn't think of Sarah Palin but he knew Obama wasn't from there. The boy was more excited to mention a driver from Ice Road Truckers that is also from Wasilla. Too young to follow the political scene!
The garden
The bunkhouse
We were lucky to visit on the Ranch Days weekend held once in July. Ranch folks from the area volunteer to demonstrate the Montana-made Beaver Slide haystacking method used on the ranch in the early days. A beaver slide is pictured above.
Horse-pushed buck rake and horse-drawn hay rake
Buck rake
Once the hay is raked into rows, a buck rake is used to push the hay towards the beaver slide.
It is pushed onto a basket at the bottom of the slide....
...Then a team pulls the rope that raises the basket up and over the slide...
hay rake
hay mower
Blacksmith shop and more equipment
backporch of the ranch house
We also took a ride in a little railroad cart. This had nothing to do with the operation of the ranch, but they were helping celebrate Ranch Days. Fun!
On the drive home, we drove through Butte, the Richest Hill on Earth thanks to the copper mines that surround the town.
Butte, Montana
The kid pictured above was wearing an Alaska cap. The chuckwagon cook above asked if the boy was from Alaska and he said, "Yes, I'm from Wasilla, Alaska." The cook asked if there was a famous person from Wasilla. The boy couldn't think of anyone so the cook said, "Obama?" The boy said, "WHAT?" He couldn't think of Sarah Palin but he knew Obama wasn't from there. The boy was more excited to mention a driver from Ice Road Truckers that is also from Wasilla. Too young to follow the political scene!
The garden
The bunkhouse
We were lucky to visit on the Ranch Days weekend held once in July. Ranch folks from the area volunteer to demonstrate the Montana-made Beaver Slide haystacking method used on the ranch in the early days. A beaver slide is pictured above.
Horse-pushed buck rake and horse-drawn hay rake 
Buck rake
Once the hay is raked into rows, a buck rake is used to push the hay towards the beaver slide.
It is pushed onto a basket at the bottom of the slide....
...Then a team pulls the rope that raises the basket up and over the slide...
hay rake
hay mower
Blacksmith shop and more equipment
backporch of the ranch house
We also took a ride in a little railroad cart. This had nothing to do with the operation of the ranch, but they were helping celebrate Ranch Days. Fun!
On the drive home, we drove through Butte, the Richest Hill on Earth thanks to the copper mines that surround the town.
Butte, Montana
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