About Us
This is us
The Big Sandy Historical society is small, yet fascinating! The historical items that this museum possesses show the versatility that the people had to have in order to live in this area. As you tour the museum you will be amazed at all the different items and displays our museum offers, and you will leave with a new knowledge about the town of Big Sandy.
More than just a Museum
At the Big Sandy Historical Society, we are more than just a place to gather knowledge. With our large community room, we love to have events! One of the events that we love having every year is the Memorial day Breakfast.
Please contact us if you have an event you would like to hold here!
Big Sandy, Montana
Big Sandy, Montana was first settled in 1887 with the railroad arrival. However, it was not until 1911 that the town really began to be populated. Big Sandy got it's name from "Big Sandy" Lane who got stuck in a creek outside of the town.
In the early days of Big Sandy it was primarily a cow town, which if you visit now you will see this has changed. When the homesteaders came they changed the cow town, into a farm town. The railroad started shipping more crop and less animals.
Big Sandy, just like a lot of other towns around Montana Boomed, and then it Busted. When the town hit its bust, it never went back to being a "cow town". Big Sandy stayed a farm town, and if you visit you will see lots and lots of wheat fields.
Little taste of history
"Cornfield Bomber"
On Feb. 2, 1970 three aircraft set out from Malmstrom AFB base to conduct a routine air combat training course. The three pilots were Captain Tom Curtis, 1st Lt. Gary Foust and Major Jimmy Lowe.
During the training, Gary Foust lost control of his aircraft while trying to keep pace with Captain Curtis. At that point his aircraft entered a flat spin in the air, which was usually unrecoverable. Foust did all he could to recover his aircraft, but after all of the text book maneuvers failed he was forced to do an emergency evacuation. Upon his evacuation, the aircraft miraculously recovered on its own. Seeing this, Major Lowe radioed to Foust, " Gary you better get back in it!" Foust did not return to the piece, however they both landed safely in a wheat field ( not corn field), near the town of Big Sandy.
The aircraft landed on its belly in deep snow. A local officer saw the incident and radioed to Major Wolfold, who's name was on the side of the aircraft, how to turn it off. Major Wolfold instructed him to leave it running and let it run out of fuel. Now the officer had to bail off the aircraft as it skidded in the field from melting the snow below it.
After the aircraft came to rest she was recovered and taken apart to go get repaired. The air craft could have been flown out again if it wasn't for the damage that had been done to the belly when landing and sliding.
The F-106 Delta Dart is now on display in National Museum of the U.S Air Force.
Source: F-106DeltaDart.com. 1998.
