Situated on the plains of southeastern Montana, Miles City had its beginnings as a place in the Wild West and today, although somewhat tamer, is still surrounded by the modern-day frontier–miles of cattle country, cowboys and wide-open skies. Originally known as “Milestown,” the town came into existence as a service center for nearby Fort Keogh, an 1870s fort established after the Battle of the Little Bighorn. Thanks to the coming of the railroad and numerous cattle drives north from Texas, the community quickly grew and continues to be a commercial hub for the area.

Located 145 mi (242 km) east of Billings, Miles City is best known for its annual Bucking Horse Sale. Founded in 1950, the rodeo event attracts stock from all over North America and has become a weekend affair full of parades, concerts and energized saloons. In addition to the sale, the Custer County Arts Center and the Range Riders Museum both allow visitors a glimpse of the new and old West or visitors can catch a bit of culture in the shops and cafes in the city’s historic downtown or at its annual Blue Grass Festival.