Flathead County Library

September is here and so are new and exciting teen programs!

Join us at all three branch locations this month for fun programs including plenty of crafting, a Lego STEM club, as well as a chance to hang out with other fans from your favorite fandoms. No sign ups required. We hope to see you there!

Welcome to Montana Mondays, our weekly series dedicated to uncovering the rich and rugged history of Montana!⁠ This is part 5 of 5 about the Copper Kings of Butte.

The first phase of the Wars of the Copper Kings, the feud between Marcus Daly and William Clark, ended with the death of Daly in 1900. His company passed to Standard Oil (Amalgamated), and Clark sold out to the company in 1904. While James Murray, Daly, and Clark were all known to be good employers, Amalgamated was run from New Jersey and focused on profit.

During this time, F. Augustus Heinze began using the Apex law to claim ore from areas owned by Amalgamated, using his influence with the judges in Butte to win lawsuits. As the appeals wound their way up to the Supreme Court, Heinze’s workers continued mining. Heinze used good working conditions and generosity to build strong popular support that helped him battle “the Company.”

Amalgamated responded with a shutdown in 1903, putting 15,000 people out of work and paralyzing the state economy. The company’s demand for a fair trial bill was met and Heinze’s cases were moved from Butte to more neutral ground. Two constitutional amendments for worker protections were also passed at this time. By 1906 Heinze had sold out and moved to New York, where he sought to win the war through finances. His failure marked the end of the Copper Wars and sparked the 1913 creation of the Federal Reserve.

In 1906 Montana citizens passed the Voter Initiative constitutional amendment, and in 1912 four voter initiatives passed aimed at preventing corporate control of elections.

Sources:https://mhs.mt.gov/education/Textbook/Chapter10/chapter10.pdf , https://scholarworks.umt.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=6197&context=etd , https://dailymontanan.com/2026/06/16/history-lesson-it-was-the-corporations-not-the-copper-kings/ , https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-copper-kings-precipitous-fall-44306513/

For more Montana history, please check out the 978.6 section of the library!

Check out this week's programs for Kids & Teens! Join us for Storytimes, Switch Days and more at all three Flathead County Library locations. For more information go to flatheadcountylibrary.org/events-calendar/

Fall into Fun this September at the Library -

September Updates at Flathead County Library Let the library be your resource for information, learning, and connection this fall.

Hey! It’s History Friday!

This week we are comparing photos of the Crystal Point area in Glacier National Park, circa 1925 and 2026. The team that surveyed Logan Pass, which included Frank A. Kittredge and 32 men, faced some of the most challenging terrain in the region. The men divided the route into numbered stations to carefully map and construct the road. This week's photograph highlights Stations 379-382, encompassing the Crystal Point area.

Suspended by ropes on steep cliffs, surveyors mapped the landscape and identified the safest path forward through the rugged terrain. Building this section of the highway required skill, and courage. Men worked tirelessly to transform the wilderness into a road that would one day allow visitors to experience Glacier's breathtaking beauty. They endured harsh working conditions, rapid weather changes, and physically demanding labor. Their camps were also frequently visited by wildlife, particularly bears, who enjoyed raiding food supplies.

Despite these challenges, the crew persevered, and their efforts helped create one of America's most scenic mountain highways. This stretch of road grants travelers with the first spectacular view of the towering peaks of Glacier National Park, a view that continues to impress visitors today.

Have you taken a selfie against the Crystal Point view? We’d love to see it in the comments!

Source: Montana History Portal, https://www.mtmemory.org/nodes/view/102575?lsk=8fe5afc2236e244c6975eae864169eab

Photos: Montana History Portal, 2026 photo take by library staff, Liz Camarillo.

For more Montana history check out the 978.6 section of the library!

📚✨ What does summer learning look like at the library? A little bit of everything!

This year’s Summer Reading Experience gave kids and families opportunities to explore, experiment, collaborate, create, and connect through hands-on activities and playful learning. From trying something new to working together to solve a challenge, every experience helped kids build curiosity, creativity, problem-solving skills, and confidence.

We’re celebrating some of our favorite moments from a summer filled with discovery—and we’re just getting started! 🌟

🍂 Fall programming for kids and teens begins September 1. Join us throughout the school year for more hands-on learning, creative challenges, and opportunities to discover something new at the library!

Join us for this place-based talk, Connecting to the Land Through an Indigenous Lens, with Lailani Upham. She explores how Indigenous stories, history, and lived relationships with land shape conservation in real and practical ways.

Glacier Institute Columbia Falls Nature Center: Friday September 4, 5 - 7pm

Fall is on its way, and we’re getting ready with a fresh lineup of teen programming! 🍂⁠
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Join us this fall for crafting, Magic: The Gathering meetups, LEGO fun, and so much more. For teens in grades 6-12. ⁠
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Click the link for the full schedule and all of the details! https://flatheadcountylibrary.org/programs/teens/