Things to Do in Harlowton, MT

You know a place I don’t hear about too often? Harlowton, MT! I knew it was a cool town, but that was about it! So I decided to spend a day and learn about the town.  Harlo sits where Highway 191 meets Highway 12, the TRUE center of the state according to locals. Most people drive through on their way to somewhere else, but it is undoubtedly worth the stop! Here’s what I recommend doing:

Morning at the Upper Musselshell Museum

I rolled in about 10 am and started at the Upper Musselshell Museum, just as it opened. The place has some fascinating displays, including a full-size Avaceratops dinosaur replica (this museum is a part of the Dinosaur Trail), an homesteading cabin, a sled hearse, a gun collection, and an informative display on the Indigenous peoples of the area. Nancy, a volunteer, gave me a wonderful tour, adding history and stories to nearly every piece on display.

Murals and a Downtown Stroll

While chatting with a local, I heard about new murals downtown, so I went to check them out. A couple were still in progress and the artists were painting while I walked by. One mural stretches nearly a block and tells Harlowton’s story in a single, sweeping image. In another spot, a colorful sheep was being painted by a local high schooler as I stood there watching. The sense of community pride was evident!

Gally’s Brewery

By afternoon it was time to cool off, so I headed to Gally’s Brewing Company in the old Montana Building. Since opening in 2017, it’s become the town hangout. The taproom opens at 2 pm and runs into the evening. I ordered a refreshing IPA and ended up chatting with the bartender and a couple of locals. Good beer, good people, good stop.

The Milwaukee Depot Museum

Next stop was the Milwaukee Depot Museum. The building itself, built in 1908, was once the eastern end of the Milwaukee Road’s electric line, a 438-mile stretch of rail that powered through the mountains to Avery, ID. Inside, the exhibits walk you through the era when Harlowton was a busy rail hub.  Outside, I could walk among historic trains such as plows, maintenance vehicles, and cars that once ran the line. The museum also connects to the Smoking Boomer Rail Trail, named after the town’s legendary dog who used to greet passengers with a pipe in his mouth!

A Burger… and Polka at the Stockman?

After walking the museum grounds, I was hungry. In Central Montana, I’ll always go for a burger, so I headed to the Stockman Bar (also known as Barky’s). Fun fact: Stockman is the second most popular bar name in Montana second only to The Mint.

As I reached for the door, I thought I heard something strange. “Was that an accordion?” It was! Inside, an accordion and a piano made up a polka duo. Turns out every Wednesday from 3–5 pm, the Stockman hosts live polka music. Who would’ve guessed! My burger and fries were spot-on, but the surprise music turned dinner into the highlight of the day.

Wrapping Up the Day

That wrapped up my time in Harlowton. A lot of people pass through without stopping on their way to Billings, Bozeman, Great Falls, Lewistown, etc. I’m glad I didn’t. Stopping gave me a whole new perspective on this crossroads town. Whether it’s dinosaurs, trains or polka, there are some fun surprises in Harlowton.