This Month in Montana History: July

July 4th, 1803, 219 years ago: Under President Thomas Jefferson, America purchases 530,000,000 acres of land from France in the Louisiana Purchase. Although negotiations had been taking place months prior and the official territory was purchased on July 1st, it was first announced to the public on the 4th, coinciding with the 27th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It is also worth noting that France only controlled a small portion of this land, with most of it still belonging to Native tribes.

July 4th, 1899, 123 years ago: Construction begins on the Montana State...