The Long Way
Granite County
A log cabin sits among trees with smoke rising from its stone chimney.
Plate I. Rustic cabin, Morgan-Case Homestead. From recreation.gov
A large stone fireplace with a wood-burning stove inside it.
Plate II. Wood stove, Morgan-Case Homestead. From recreation.gov
An interior view of a kitchen with wooden cabinets and a doorway.
Plate III. Kitchen interior, Morgan-Case Homestead. From recreation.gov
A living room with a stone fireplace and a patterned sofa.
Plate IV. Living room inside Morgan-Case Homestead. From recreation.gov
A wide-angle photo of a rustic kitchen interior with wooden cabinets and a dining table.
Plate V. Kitchen inside the Morgan-Case Homestead. From recreation.gov

Morgan-Case Homestead

Philipsburg, Granite County, Montana. Rustic log cabin; Open year-round.

Details

Map. Philipsburg, Granite County, Montana. Larger map
Where
3034 Rock Creek Road, Philipsburg, MT. Directions
When
Check-in is at 3 p.m. and check-out is at 11 a.m.
Getting there
From Missoula, east on Interstate 90 about 20 miles to exit 126, then south on Rock Creek Road about 30 miles; the road is not suitable for RVs or trailers.
Fees
$75 per night.
Access
Accessible by vehicle, depending on conditions; in winter travelers may have to hike, ski or snowshoe about a mile to the cabin.
Walk-in or reserve
Reservation required; the cabin is locked and renters receive gate and cabin combination codes by email.
Phone
406-329-3814
Website
recreation.gov
Managed by
Missoula Ranger District.
Established
1890.
Coordinates
46.4027778, -113.6875.

A rustic log cabin on approximately 320 acres along Rock Creek, listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its significance relating to early homesteading and ranching in Granite County and western Montana.

Notable Events

  1. 1894Joseph Case formed a partnership with Annie Morgan to improve the claim in exchange for an undivided half interest. npgallery.nps.gov
  2. 1911Morgan applied to the Forest Service to have her claim listed for survey. npgallery.nps.gov
  3. 1913Morgan filed Homestead Entry No. 04562 in the Missoula District Land Office. npgallery.nps.gov
  4. 1914Morgan's death halted her patent process and left ownership of the homestead in question. npgallery.nps.gov
  5. 1919After several years of negotiation, Joseph Case received the land patent at age 74. npgallery.nps.gov
  6. 1943John and Olga Myers sold the entire property to Bill Schmidt, a plumber from Anaconda. npgallery.nps.gov
  7. 1951The Schmidt family sold the property, except 2½ acres, to Frank L. and Sarah Margaret Puyear. npgallery.nps.gov
  8. 1979The Puyears sold the ranch to the United States; the Forest Service bought it principally for recreation and recorded the buildings as historic site 24GN195. npgallery.nps.gov
  9. 1991The homestead residence was determined eligible under National Register criteria A and C with the Montana State Historic Preservation Office. npgallery.nps.gov
  10. 1999The Missoula Ranger District began rehabilitating the property for summer administration and seasonal cabin rental. npgallery.nps.gov

People

  • Annie (Agnes) Morgan, first occupant and homesteader.
  • Bill Schmidt, owner (1943-1951).
  • John and Olga Myers, owners (1924-1943).
  • Joseph Case, builder and homesteader.

Sources

  1. recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/233336
  2. recreation.gov/api/camps/campgrounds/233336
  3. fs.usda.gov/r01/lolo/recreation/morgan-case-homestead
  4. mhs.mt.gov/Shpo/AfricanAmericans/Places/NationalRegister
  5. montanawomenshistory.mt.gov/News/news-articles/Two-Legendary-African-American-Homesteaders
  6. npgallery.nps.gov/pdfhost/docs/NRHP/Text/05000011.pdf