Historic Crail Ranch
Established in 1902 by Augustus Franklin Crail, Historic Crail Ranch preserves one of the earliest homesteads in the Big Sky, Montana area. Today, the ranch and its remaining historic buildings offer a window into the region’s ranching heritage and the early families who helped shape life in the Gallatin Canyon.
The Historic Crail Ranch Homestead
The Historic Crail Ranch Homestead Museum and Park preserves the story of early settlement in the Big Sky area.
Self Guided Tour
Explore the Crail Ranch grounds at your own pace and discover one of Big Sky’s earliest homesteads. Interpretive signs and preserved buildings share the story of the Crail family and life on a Montana ranch in the early 1900s.
History & Preservation
Historic Crail Ranch preserves one of the earliest homesteads in Big Sky & the stories of the families who built their lives here. Through ongoing stewardship, this historic site remains protected for future generations to experience.
Guided Tour
Step back in time to experience life in the early days of what is now Big Sky! Our knowledgeable guides will take you through our historic cabins, share stories about our artifact collection, and the history of the families who first made Big Sky home.
Events & Eductaion
Historic Crail Ranch brings Big Sky’s early homesteading story to life through hands-on education, immersive experiences, and community storytelling. From school field trips to seasonal programs, the ranch offers meaningful opportunities for students and visitors to explore the traditions, skills, and daily life of Montana’s homestead era.
Educational Programs
Historic Crail Ranch offers experiential learning programs both at the homestead museum and in classrooms across the Big Sky community. Each year, local students and campers visit the ranch to explore artifacts, historic buildings, and the landscape that shaped early settlement in the Gallatin Valley.
Programs focus on the Homestead Era and Big Sky’s ranching roots, beginning with a museum scavenger hunt that encourages students to explore historic tools and artifacts throughout the property. Participants then take part in interactive activities designed to demonstrate what life was like working on a Montana ranch before modern technology.
Activities may include:
• Gardening and harvesting hay
• Churning butter and traditional food preparation
• Quilting and heritage crafts
• Learning basic roping techniques
• Designing and reading ranch brands
• Old-fashioned games that show how children entertained themselves a century ago
Living History Events
Historic Crail Ranch also hosts Living History programs that invite visitors to meet historical characters and storytellers from the American West. These performances blend history, storytelling, and education to create memorable experiences for the Big Sky community.
Past events have featured acclaimed storyteller Mary Jane Bradbury, who has brought historical figures such as Nancy Cooper Russell—the wife and business manager of famed Western artist Charles M. Russell—and the legendary Calamity Jane to life at the ranch. These programs help connect the stories of the West with the people who shaped them, making history accessible, engaging, and alive for today’s audiences.Living History events at Historic Crail Ranch are made possible through support from Humanities Montana.
Historic Crail Ranch Today
Getting Involved at Historic Crail Ranch
Historic Crail Ranch remains preserved today thanks to the dedication of community volunteers and supporters who care deeply about Big Sky’s heritage. Whether you share your time as a volunteer or contribute financially to restoration efforts, your involvement helps protect this historic homestead for future generations to explore and learn from.
Volunteer
We are actively seeking volunteers to join the Historic Crail Ranch Conservators Committee and serve as seasonal museum tour guides during the summer months. If you have an interest in local history and would like to help with preservation projects, events, or guided tours, please send your contact information to crailranch@bsco.org.
Donate
The restoration and ongoing care of the Historic Crail Ranch buildings and grounds is made possible through generous donations and the support of community volunteers. Contributions are tax-deductible and help ensure this important piece of Big Sky’s history remains preserved and accessible.
Donations may be sent to:
Big Sky Community Organization
c/o Historic Crail Ranch
P.O. Box 161404
Big Sky, MT 59716
History Lessons from Crail Ranch
Explore Big Sky’s history through hands-on, interactive lessons that bring the homestead era to life. From daily life on the ranch to the changing landscape of the American West, each experience invites students to learn by doing, discovering, and connecting to the place around them.
Follow-up Activies on the Ranch
Extend the learning beyond the museum with hands-on activities that connect past to present. From making butter to exploring historic catalogs, these experiences reinforce key lessons while giving students a deeper, more tangible understanding of homestead life.
Students learn about hay harvesting using video and historical tools in the small cabin.
Covers shearing, carding, dyeing, and weaving wool. Includes hands-on interaction with materials.
Students learn about livestock branding and design their own brand to represent identity.
Explores building materials, techniques, and durability of historic structures.
Hands-on experience tending and harvesting crops such as garlic, onions, and potatoes.
Focus on native plants and conservation (not recommended for school groups due to timing).
Includes tug-of-war, sack races, and bean bag toss, with discussion of historical context.
crailranch@bigskyco.org
In-classroom Experiences
Bring Big Sky’s history directly into the classroom with engaging, educator-led lessons. These experiences explore Indigenous history, early settlement, and cultural storytelling through interactive discussions, artifacts, and creative projects that meet students where they are.
Presentation of Indigenous artifacts and their uses.
Exploration of Native travel routes using maps.
Students create narrative artwork inspired by historical examples.
Overview of local school history from 1908 to present.
Film exploring the transition from ranching to tourism.
Experience the Historic Crail Homestead
From youth camps and after-school programs to recreation leagues, outdoor meetups, and fitness classes at BASE, BSCO programs offer opportunities for people of all ages to stay active and connected in Big Sky. If you have questions about registration, program schedules, age requirements, or how to get involved, we’re here to help. Our goal is simple: make it easy for residents and visitors to participate in programs that support health, community, and lifelong recreation.
Yes. Historic Crail Ranch hosts educational programs, school visits, and living history events throughout the year. Hands-on activities, storytelling, and historical demonstrations help visitors of all ages learn about Montana’s homestead era and the traditions that shaped the early Big Sky community.
Yes. Crail Ranch connects to nearby walking paths and trails in the Meadow Village area, making it easy to combine a visit to the historic site with a scenic walk through Big Sky. These paths link parks, neighborhoods, and open space while offering views of Lone Mountain and the surrounding landscape.
Historic Crail Ranch is located in Meadow Village in Big Sky, Montana, just minutes from Town Center. The preserved homestead sits in a peaceful meadow setting and is easily accessible for visitors interested in learning about the region’s history while exploring the community.
Visitors can explore Historic Crail Ranch through self-guided tours of the grounds or by joining guided tours offered during the summer season. Interpretive signs, historic buildings, and museum displays help visitors learn about homesteading life, ranching history, and the Crail family’s role in shaping the Big Sky community.
Historic Crail Ranch is one of the oldest preserved homesteads in the Big Sky area and offers a glimpse into early ranching life in the Gallatin Valley. Originally established by Augustus Franklin Crail in 1902, the ranch is now maintained by Big Sky Community Organization as a historic site and museum that preserves the story of Big Sky’s earliest settlers.
Crail Ranch Conservators
The Historic Crail Ranch Conservators are community members dedicated to preserving one of Big Sky’s earliest homesteads and sharing its story with future generations. Established in 2006 as a committee of Big Sky Community Organization, the Conservators continue the grassroots preservation efforts that began in the late 1970s—protecting the ranch as a historic landmark and promoting it as an educational resource for Big Sky, Gallatin County, and the American West.
A longtime history docent and preservation advocate, Al helped establish the Historic Crail Ranch Conservators and served as its first chair.
A longtime Big Sky educator and community leader, Anne Marie has supported the preservation of Historic Crail Ranch since 2003 and now serves as Chair of the Conservators committee.
A retired Montana State University science educator, Carol supports Crail Ranch preservation while enjoying hiking and skiing in the Big Sky area.
An educator and seasonal Big Sky resident for decades before settling here full-time, Margaret enjoys helping preserve and share the story of early life in the Gallatin Canyon.
A retired history teacher and longtime Big Sky visitor turned resident, Sarah shares her passion for local history as a docent at Historic Crail Ranch.
A Community Effort to Preserve Crail Ranch
The preservation of Historic Crail Ranch began in the late 1970s as a grassroots effort led by community members in the rapidly growing Big Sky area who recognized the importance of protecting one of the region’s earliest homesteads. Forming the Gallatin Canyon Historical Society and working alongside the Gallatin County Historical Society, early advocates—including Judy Onslow, Howard Alverson, Bob Donovan, Paula Halverson, Susie Weir, Oralee Alverson, and Nancy Cooke—helped ensure the ranch buildings and grounds were placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
To continue this work, the Historic Crail Ranch Conservators were established in 2006 as a committee of Big Sky Community Organization. Today, the Conservators carry forward the original vision: preserving Crail Ranch as a heritage property while promoting it as an educational resource for the Big Sky community, Gallatin County, the state of Montana, and the broader story of the American West.
Get in touch
Questions about our programs, getting involved or educational courses at Crail Ranch? We're here to help.
