WIBAUX

Wibaux is a county seat named for Pierre Wibaux, a Huguenot who came to eastern Montana, liked it, and stayed. Wibaux became one of the largest cattlemen in the state, making a fortune during the hard winter of 1890 by buying cattle at bargain prices at a time when many stockmen were forced to sell. His own herd had been wiped out during the blizzards of 1886-1887, but he got more financial backing from French investors and eventually built his herd up to 75,000 head. His humor and sagacity are remembered in many legends. (from Cheney's Names on the Face of Montana, Mountain Press Publishing Company) Put Wibaux at the top of your travel itinerary when you travel to Montana from the east on Interstate 94. This Gateway to Montana community has a state visitor center with all the information you will need to complete your plans for a wonderful vacation in Montana. As a bonus you will find Wibaux to be a friendly, western town with a colorful history and a charming commercial historic district — a great place to set the tone for the rest of your trip. The Visitor Information Center provides for an introduction to the area and its history. Maps, travel brochures, photographs, video tapes and a friendly staff answer your questions about what there is to do and see all across Montana. The Pierre Wibaux House Museum provides visitors with farm and household exhibits of early settlers and Indian artifacts. The museum also includes an old-fashioned barbershop, livery stable, a railroad caboose, and old-fashioned gardens. The Centennial Car Museum, a railroad car, which was on display at the World's Fair in New York City in 1964, houses a number of artifacts and unusual displays. Another distinctive building is the Saint Peter's Catholic Church with its stained glass and lava rock exterior, built in 1885. It looks like just a small stream, but Beaver Creek, which flows through Wibaux, has produced some big fish, including walleye and northern pike in excess of 10 pounds. Catfish and bullheads also can be caught in the creek, while panfish and trout are found in many area farm ponds. A public pond with picnic area is located on the edge of the city limits on MT Highway 7 south. A blend of badlands and rolling hills offers fine photography and hunting for mule deer, whitetail deer, and antelope. Upland game birds also are plentiful in some parts of the country. Deer, wild turkeys, beavers, and a wide variety of songbirds are frequently spotted, sometimes right in town! Elevation: 2,634 feet