unexpected...

... though by now I should have learned that one should always expect the unexpected.
After lunch in Hamilton M took for a drive along some of the residential streets pointing out...wait for it...a house designed by Frank Lloyd Wright! One of six that were built in the town and only two of which remain -fireplaces and FLW's houses not always the best of house mates.

Hamilton is the Ravalli County seat of Government and the largest town in the Bitterroot Valley. Central to the valley at an elevation of about 3,500 ft (1000m) the town was founded by Marcus daly, one of Montana's 'Copper Kings', who came in search of timber for his mines in Butte. He built a mill to process the timber, a  town for the workers and a summer home for himself.
While mining booms created wealth for other towns, Daly's irrigation projects and plans continued after his death and from 1907-1911 the Valle boom was not one of minerals but McIntosh apples.
Along with the apples came FLW to create a 'summer retreat for noted savants' and the village of Bitterroot.
The boom was short lived with blight decimating the apple crop and plans for a Bitteroot Village that would have rivalled Missoula for size.
However Wright's Bitteroot Inn 'a paradise in the wilderness was built' as were houses in town.

Built in the 'Prairie Style', ..."the buildings reflect an all-encompassing philosophy that Wright termed “Organic Architecture.” By this Wright meant that architecture should be suited to its environment and be a product of its place, purpose and time."

Enough already of the history, however just another wee fact about downtown Hamilton, Calamity Jane lived here for a while, running a cafe on Main Street!! How very cool.

Frank and Calamity, now there is a combo to conjour with!