History of the famous Ringling Circus brothers' ranches and railroads in Montana.

Famous in the 1920s as a singer of Negro spirituals, Taylor Gordon was born into the only black family living in White Sulphur Springs, Montana. His rough-and-ready upbringing in that mining boom town is warmly remembered in Born to Be. Gordon describes with panache his early years in the Old West, where he was not aware of racial prejudice. As a boy he carried messages from civic leaders to the town madam, served drinks to the “sports,” and scurried up plenty of excitement. The book shows him leaving Montana for the East, experiencing the arrows of bigotry, chauffeuring for circus impresario John Ringling, and forging a singing career that won him a place in the Harlem Renaissance and an appointment with British royalty. Gordon finally returned to White Sulphur Springs—after an extraordinary career riddled with misfortune. But he was still flourishing at the age of thirty-six, when the autobiographical Born to Be ends.

W. C. McRae and Judy Jewell, outdoors enthusiasts and former coworkers at legendary Powell's Books in Portland, have covered some of the most rugged destinations in the U.S.: Montana, Utah, and Zion & Bryce. They continue their tradition with the latest edition of Moon Montana. From the wilderness of Yellowstone to the eastern prairies, McRae and Jewell lead travelers to the best of the Big Sky Country, offering unique travel strategies such as the Hot Springs Tour of Montana, and for the history buff, Following Lewis and Clark's Corps of Discovery. Whether it's cross-country skiing at Glacier National Park, observing elk at Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge, or finding the best “watering hole” in Missoula, Moon Montana gives travelers the tools they need to create a more personal and memorable experience.

The Circus Kings, first published in 1960 and authored by a nephew of the original Ringling Brothers, is a fascinating insider's account of circus life and lore. From humble beginnings in Baraboo, Wisconsin, the Ringling family would go on to create "The Greatest Show on Earth," delighting audiences across America. Along the way, however, were the behind-the-scenes financial struggles, tragedies such as fires and labor strikes, legal battles, and changing entertainment tastes. Henry Ringling North ran Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus from 1936 to 1967, along with his older brother, John. Included are 18 pages of photographs.

Seasoned travel writers Judy Jewell and W. C. McRae share the best ways to experience all that Montana has to offer, from the Yellowstone's rugged wilderness to the rolling prairies of the eastern region. Jewell and McRae lead travelers to the highlights of Big Sky Country, with original trip ideas including "A Lewis and Clark Expedition," "Fishing Southwest Montana," and "Soak It Up: Hot Springs of Montana." Complete with tips for cross-country skiing at Glacier National Park, observing elk at Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge, and finding the best watering holes in Missoula, Moon Montana gives visitors the tools they need to create a more personal and memorable experience.

Montana's place names are alive with a kind of poetry, rich in human and historical associations. In this book you can follow the prospectors to Gold Creek or Granite, honor government officials with Jefferson and Meagher, smile with the old timers at Ubet, and ride the prairie with cattlemen turning brands into Two Dot and Seventynine.

The Ringling Brothers began their business under the most modest of circumstances and through hard work, business savvy, and some luck created the largest, most famous circus in the world. They became wealthy men, one 50 cent admission ticket at a time. Ringlingville USA chronicles the brothers' journey from immigrant poverty to enduring glory as the kings of the circus world. The Ringlings and their circus were last studied in depth over four decades ago. Now, for the first time, the brothers' detailed financial records and personal correspondence are available to researchers. Jerry Apps weaves together that information with newspaper accounts, oral histories, colorful anecdotes, and stunning circus ephemera and photos, many never before been published, to illuminate the importance of the Ringlings' accomplishments. He describes how the Ringling Brothers confronted the challenges of taxation, war, economic pressure, changing technology, and personal sorrows to find their place in history. The brothers emerge as complex characters whose ambition, imagination, and pure hucksterism fueled the phenomenon that was the Ringling Brothers' Circus.