Columbus
began as a stage station on the Yellowstone Trail and is now a shipping
center for the rich farm and ranch lands around it. Prosperity came when
the Columbus quarry was chosen to furnish the stone for the state capitol
in Helena. This project and other contracts for fine stone kept the
quarries and the railroad busy for years.
This
full-service community in the foothills of the Beartooths boasts the 'most
scenic route to Yellowstone Park' via Montana Highway 78 and U.S. Highway
212 over the Beartooth Pass. Located at the confluence of the Stillwater and
Yellowstone rivers, Columbus offers plenty of outdoor recreation. Visit the
Museum of the Beartooths for an understanding of area history, including
artifacts of the Rosebud River Crow Indians, Northern Pacific Railroad
memorabilia and World War II history.
