Last updated: October 10, 2024
Place
St. Mary Visitor Center: Montana's Prairieland
Quick Facts
Amenities
27 listed
Bear Spray Purchase/Rental, Benches/Seating, Bicycle - Repair, Bus/Shuttle Stop, Electric Car Charging Station, Gifts/Souvenirs/Books, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Information, Information - Maps Available, Information - Park Newspaper Available, Information - Ranger/Staff Member Present, Information Kiosk/Bulletin Board, Internet/WiFi Available, Junior Ranger Activity, Junior Ranger Booklet Available, Parking - Auto, Parking - Boat Trailer, Parking - Bus/RV, Permits Issued, Restroom, Restroom - Accessible, Restroom - Family, Theater/Auditorium, Trash/Litter Receptacles, Water - Bottle-Filling Station, Water - Drinking/Potable, Wheelchair Accessible
Situated amid Montana’s prairieland, the plains surrounding the St. Mary Visitor Center are a stark difference between the mountains behind it. The abrupt change is evidence of dramatic folding and faulting that crumpled and deformed the earth’s crust to uplift the mountains we see today. Much of this activity took place from about 150 million years ago to about 60 million years ago.
The many-colored rocks you see in the park’s mountains today formed as sediments, slowly building up on an ancient sea floor. These rocks are almost 1.5 billion years old! Tectonic forces pushed and uplifted this thick stack of rock up and over much younger rocks that are only 70 million years old. They would slide 50 miles (80 km) eastward to their present location along a fault called the Lewis overthrust. Where you see the dramatic change from prairie to mountains along the park’s eastern boundary is roughly the outline of that once-active fault.
The St. Mary Visitor Center is the eastern gateway to the mountains of Glacier National Park. Rangers staff the visitor center throughout the summer, providing trip planning and other information about the park. While you’re here, make sure to stop by the bathroom, fill up your water bottles, and grab your souvenirs from the Glacier National Park Conservancy’s gift shop.
The many-colored rocks you see in the park’s mountains today formed as sediments, slowly building up on an ancient sea floor. These rocks are almost 1.5 billion years old! Tectonic forces pushed and uplifted this thick stack of rock up and over much younger rocks that are only 70 million years old. They would slide 50 miles (80 km) eastward to their present location along a fault called the Lewis overthrust. Where you see the dramatic change from prairie to mountains along the park’s eastern boundary is roughly the outline of that once-active fault.
The St. Mary Visitor Center is the eastern gateway to the mountains of Glacier National Park. Rangers staff the visitor center throughout the summer, providing trip planning and other information about the park. While you’re here, make sure to stop by the bathroom, fill up your water bottles, and grab your souvenirs from the Glacier National Park Conservancy’s gift shop.