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 Territorial Centennial Train - Hardin, MT Posted by:  beagle39z
N 45° 43.834 W 107° 36.302
13T E 297311 N 5067412
The Centennial Trains panel were developed for Montana’s 1964 Territorial Centennial Train and are located outside the Historic Hardin Depot, Hardin, MT
Waymark Code: WMFB1W
Location: Montana, United States
Date Posted: 09/22/2012
Views: 3
Montana’s 1964 Territorial Centennial Train, a 30-car cross-country extravaganza, has been called “Montana’s greatest publicity stunt”. The Centennial Train, which commemorated creation of Montana Territory, also honored 75 years of statehood. The state commissioned Lyman Rice to paint 150 panels to adorn the 30 train cars with scenes intended to lure tourists to Montana. Within eight months, Rice, with assistance from Bud Wert, painted murals on 14,000 square feet of plywood.
The Centennial Train made the epic public relations journey from Montana to New York, hosted presidents and governors, and awed 380,000 people at the New York World’s Fair. Montana beef, specifically shipped in for the event, was served at the Commodore Hotel where famous cowboy star Montie Montana and his horse rode the elevator to the banquet hall.
When the fair ended and the train returned to Montana, the cars were distributed to Montana communities large and small. Some were adopted by towns and used as offices for Chambers of Commerce. Some were abandoned in wheat fields, their large painted panels now faded by the sun.
The Centennial Car situated next to the Historic Hardin Depot is one of only two surviving Centennial Train cars in Montana.
In 2007, volunteer artists including Harry Koyama, Bob Tompkins, Dick Moulden, Berna Loy Ost and Joe Trakimas, painted new mural images on the Hardin rail car. The paintings were unveiled in June 2007 during Hardin’s 100th birthday celebration.
The scenes are titled: “Passage To Paradise”, “Westbound” and “Heading for Shelter”
Subject: Territory
Commemoration: Redone for Hardin’s 100th birthday celebration (1907-2007).
Date of Founding: The creation of Montana Territory (1864-1964) and 75 years of statehood (1889-1964.
Date of Commemoration: 1964 and 2007
Address:
10 East Railway, P.O. Box 446, Hardin, MT 59034
Overview Photograph:
Yes
Detail Photograph:
Yes
Web site if available: Not listed
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