E.O. Wilson of Harvard’s Museum of Comparative Zoology is America’s best-known biologist and a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner. He makes an annual pilgrimage to Bozeman for the American Computer Museum’s award dinner held in cooperation with MSU and Yellowstone Park. He was here on October 7th and reminded us that MSU is the “University of the Yellowstone.”

Ramona and I had the privilege of again sitting with him. This is not because we know much about computers for we surely don’t. Rather, we have friends in common, Ramona has visited his lab in Cambridge, and we support the ACM.

Such opportunities are not rare and are among the many pleasures of living in Bozeman. Dr. George and Barbara Keremedjiev moved to Bozeman from Princeton, NJ and opened the ACM in 1990. Their relocation presaged others. Our area is a magnet for interesting, active, and successful individuals.

Professor Wilson made two general comments we can all celebrate. First, he noted that on a square foot basis, the ACM is America’s finest museum. One challenge is to support its growth and recognition.

When we have federal judges and other national figures at FREE’s conferences, I recommend they visit both the Museum of the Rockies and the ACM. They all recognize the former, who doesn’t like dinosaurs and Western historical artifacts, but computers? That’s a harder sell. Yet when they visit the latter, they all agree—and are amazed that Bozeman has such a treasure. Here’s what the Wall Street Journal recently reported:

“It’s located an hour’s drive north of the wonders of Yellowstone National Park and has nothing to do with the outdoors, yet everything to do with our habitat in the information age: It’s the American Computer Museum—a quirkily engaging stop-over before or after a visit to Yellowstone...that reminds us of the remarkable journey from flint chips to computer chips. The museum’s half-dozen rooms, situated in an office suite adjacent to the campus of Montana State University, overflow with antiques and artifacts.” Some of their holdings predate the Guttenberg press—and they actually have a working model of the original.

In short, we’re amazingly lucky that the ACM moved from Princeton to Bozeman. Still, many of my Bozeman friends have neither visited nor supported it. I urge you to do so. This museum is a neglected treasure of our Treasure State.

Professor Wilson’s second comment stated that the ideal place to live is in a small town with a university and within close proximity to spectacular natural areas. He noted that we’re within a few minutes of the Gallatin National Forest and just over an hour from Yellowstone National Park.

Jerry Johnson, head of MSU’s Political Science Department, recently produced a beautiful book, Knowing Yellowstone: Science in America’s First National Park. His is a collection of scientific articles, reports on, and photos of the Yellowstone area. This would make a fine gift both for locals and those who wish they were.

What Professor Wilson didn’t know, and couldn’t without living here, is the sense of community and the culture that envelops us. Our community created and generously supports Eagle Mount, Warriors and Quiet Waters, and Cultural Corner, as well as a symphony and opera. Further, Powder Magazine just ranked Bozeman as America’s best ski town. We have an amazing conjunction of qualities to enjoy.

Here’s a confident prediction. Bozeman will become an ever more attractive location for those seeking a more satisfying place to live and who have discretion as to where. Technology keeps reducing the discomforts of winter while expanding outdoor opportunities. Concurrently, the disadvantages of living far from a large city diminish. The ACM helps explain why.

Here’s a personal note. As knowledge of these opportunities spreads through America’s web of classical liberal, conservative, and libertarian thinkers, it should become easier to attract a new leader for FREE. Ramona and I will welcome more time to enjoy greater Yellowstone.