“MONTANA CURIOSITIES” CELEBRATES THE STRANGE

Missoula author Ednor Therriault will be here to sign books & chat with people about his new book, Montana Curiosities: Quirky Characters, Roadside Oddities, and Other Offbeat Stuff, on Saturday, July 10th from 11am – 1pm.

From the world’s largest purple spoon to the fastest gun in the West, from the Sleeping Giant in Helena to the Stonehenge replica in Fortine, Montana is a sprawling wonderland of curious oddities and roadside attractions. Missoula writer Ednor Therriault has roamed the entire state and gathered more than 200 of the most unusual people, places and things in his laugh-out-loud new book, Montana Curiosities.

The short, punchy entries and numerous photos that fill the book take you on a hilarious trip through the Big Sky state, looking under rocks and in dark corners to uncover some of the craziest, funniest features to be found anywhere. In his irreverent, tongue-in-cheek style, Therriault writes about interesting things from the Yaak to Alzada, from Plentywood to Darby, and all points in between. Therriault logged more than 8,000 miles researching the book, and he relates many tales from Montana’s hidden history in this twisted travel guide.

You’ll read about the 27-foot-tall cement penguin that welcomes you to Cut Bank, the “coldest spot in the nation.” You’ll discover a bar where a local river runs right underneath, viewable through a glass panel in the floor. You’ll laugh at the adventures of Erik “Fingers” Ray, the most beloved one-man-band in the state. Therriault also explores dozens of off-the-wall museums, from the Seashell Museum in Glasgow to the Museum of Computer History in Bozeman. It’s all done with plenty of humor, and Therriault’s affection for Montana is clear throughout.

There’s also a generous helping of obscure Montana trivia, and the book is loaded with maps and photos to help guide you on your quest for the unusual. Boxing squirrels and two-headed calves? You don’t know the half of it.

Therriault, a Missoula writer, is a fifth-generation Montanan. Under his alternate persona Bob Wire, he also writes and records music, and is the author of a weekly humor column at Wire Has a Point (It’s Under His Cowboy Hat).” He’s an avid outdoorsman, flyfisherman and beer league softball player. He lives in Missoula with his wife and two children, who work hard to ensure that his life is never boring.

Montana Curiosities is in stock now for $15.95. Call or email to reserve your copy.