Wheatland County: Museum, Railway and River Landscape

When looking for a hotel in Wheatland County, it helps to consider which themes you want to shape your stay: railway history, riverside nature or recreational activities. Harlowton offers specific points of interest that are easy to distinguish.

Museum and Railway History in Harlowton

The Upper Musselshell Museum is housed in the Marshall Building, a two-story sandstone building dating from 1908. The collection also has a clear focus: the Pedersen Collection is considered the largest collection of Milwaukee Road HO-scale models in the United States. For railway fans, the building itself is a highlight, as is the model-making collection.

Avaceratops Lammersi is also on display at the museum. The dinosaur was discovered north of Shawmut and is considered the first specimen of its kind. This connects the exhibition to paleontology, while the railway collection offers a different perspective on regional history.

The Harlowton Milwaukee Depot Museum tells another chapter of railway history. The depot was built in 1908 as a “Standard Class A Passenger Station” and used by the Milwaukee Road. In downtown Harlowton, an E57B electric locomotive also stands as a tribute to the region’s electric railway history. Those interested in railway history will find several distinct themes here: a historic building, a collection of HO-scale models and a public monument.

Trails, the River and Recreational Activities

The scenic Smoking Boomer Trail in Harlowton begins at the restored Milwaukee Depot. The Boomer Trailhead is next to the depot.

Harlowton lies on the banks of the Musselshell River and east of the Crazy Mountains. The Harlowton Fishing Access Site is a five-acre riverside area outside the city and next to St. Josephs City Park. The Selkirk Fishing Access Site is a state fishing access on the Musselshell River. The Deadman's Basin Fishing Access Site has a boat launch. The nearby Selkirk Fishing Access Site is a state fishing access on the Musselshell River.

For a different activity, there is the public Jawbone Creek Golf Course. It has nine holes, a links-style character and two sets of tees that allow for a playing experience over 18 holes. The course is considered the only golf course in the world that includes a cemetery. Check current conditions before visiting. The rodeo arena at Chief Joseph Park in Harlowton was built in 1910 and adds to the city’s historic points of interest.

Landscape and Getting Oriented

The Judith Gap Wind Energy Center, built in 2005, lies between Harlowton and Judith Gap. Its 90 towers rise 262 feet above the prairie. The main access is between mile markers 10 and 11; check visitor access information before your drive.

Harlowton’s location also helps with orientation: the city is at the intersection of US Highways 12 and 191. Judith Gap was named after the geographic gap between the Big Snowy Mountains and the Little Belt Mountains. The story behind the name involves both mountain ranges and adds a regional connection to the area’s place and landscape themes.

Seasonal Activities and Dining

The City of Harlowton operates a public community swimming pool during the summer months. It offers lap swimming, open swimming and swimming lessons. Since the facility operates seasonally and its program may change, check current opening dates and offerings before your trip.

Gally's Brewing Co. is a brewery with a taproom in historic Harlowton. It offers craft beer and food. This can give your stay a different focus than a museum, trail or river access. If you’re interested, check the current visitor information in advance.

Discover more destinations: Harlowton, Beaverhead, Sanders, Gallatin, Cascade, Powder River County, Madison County, Lake County.

For the broader travel overview: Montana.