bozeman

The Evolution of Bozeman: A journey through photos

Montana Hall, originally known as Main Hall, was constructed in 1898, one year after the first four students graduated from the college. Date Unknown. Photo courtesy of Renne Library

In 1864, William White Alderson, one of the founding fathers of Bozeman, stated in his diary that the Gallatin Valley was “one of the most beautiful and picturesque valleys the eye ever beheld.” Indeed.

This beauty has stood the test of time, bringing newcomers and a micropolitan evolution.

Founded in 1864 by John Bozeman, the town of Bozeman was established to harbor workers traveling to the west coast. A few decades later, in 1893, MSU was founded as a land grant college, named the Agricultural College of the State of Montana. In 1965, to honor the college’s significant research contributions, the school became known as Montana State University.

Today, Bozeman itself has grown to be the fourth largest city in the state of Montana. The town was also charted as the fastest growing micropolitan statistical area in the United States in 2018, 2019 and 2020.

This photo feature looks into the history of our university and city, comparing locations and buildings throughout time. Many structures and architectural styles have stayed the same, but the evolving landscape captured in these photos reflects all that has changed and will continue to change over the years.