Rocky Fork Coal Co. of Montana - circa 1890's Coal and Railway Unissued Stock Certificate

Unissued Stock printed by American Bank Note Company, New York.

The Rocky Fork Coal Company played a pivotal role in the settlement of south-central Montana. In 1887, they opened the region’s first commercial coal mine near present-day Red Lodge. Established in 1866 to exploit rich coal deposits in the upper Rock Creek Valley, the company’s primary objective was to supply locomotive fuel for the expanding Northern Pacific Railroad. Their activities rapidly transformed a small, rural post office into a bustling, diverse mining camp. Hundreds of European immigrants, including Finns, Scots, Irish, and Slavs, flocked to work in the East Side Mine (also known as the Sunrise Mine). This influx of people created a rough-and-tumble town with numerous saloons and a rapidly growing population.

The Rocky Fork Coal Company’s operations were instrumental in the development of regional infrastructure. In 1889, they constructed the Rocky Fork & Cooke City Railway to transport coal to markets, which the Northern Pacific Railway acquired shortly thereafter. By 1891, the mines were producing approximately 100 tons of coal daily, making the company the primary economic engine of Carbon County. Eventually, ownership of the company shifted entirely to the Northwestern Improvement Company, a subsidiary of the Northern Pacific Railroad. In 1903, the company was absorbed by the Northern Pacific Railroad. After a decline in production following World War I, the mines finally closed by 1932. This shift in focus led Red Lodge to embrace tourism and the development of the Beartooth Scenic Highway.