montana : Montana derives from the Latin word meaning "mountainous." Montana was admitted into the Union as the 41st state in 1889. The state is the fourth largest state of the United States. Western Montana is a land of tall, rugged mountains; while eastern Montana is a land of broad plains. Montana experienced sudden development when gold was discovered in 1862. Montana was also the scene of the Native Americans' last effort to keep their land. The last stand of Lieutenant Colonel George A. Custer was fought in Montana, as were the final battles of the Nez Perce Wars. The mountains, the battlefields, the old gold camps, and the vast, lonely distances give visitors a unique perspective of the American frontier.
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