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The History of McCormick’s in Montana Songs and Other Assorted Tales by Mike McCormick

  • Yellowstone County Museum 1950 Terminal Circle Billings, MT, 59105 United States (map)

Mike writes songs and tells stories. Most of them are true. This musical presentation traces the arrival of the McCormick’s to Montana in the mid-1860s and continues up to the present day.

Most notable of the first generation of Montana McCormick's, was Paul (Mike’s great great uncle) who established trading posts on the Yellowstone River, possibly rescued Fort Pease from a band of Lakota, started and was partners in several cattle companies. He was one of the founders of Billing and was well acquainted with his native contemporary Plenty Coup Chief of the Crow Nation.

Mike was born in Montana and lived in Hysham for the first two years of his life. His family moved to Iowa where he lived until he completed high school. Mike returned home to Montana in his early twenties and earned a degree in English Lit from the U of M and then a degree in Nursing from MSU. He has spent most of his working life with the Indian Health Service working on various Indian Reservations with the last 23 years on the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana.

Earlier Event: September 18
A Taste of History 2026: Fundraising Gala