On This Day in 1959, the Deadly Quake Near Yellowstone

A deadly earthquake that reshaped the entire map in and around Yellowstone National Park, and it happened on this day back in 1959. Thanks to Willie's Distillery out of Ennis for sharing this history.

Willie's Distillery on Facebook: "On this day in 1959, a powerful 7.5 earthquake shook Hebgen Lake, reshaping the land and lives forever. The quake caused massive landslides, dammed the Madison River to form Quake Lake, and left a lasting mark on Montana’s history. Nature’s force is a reminder of both resilience and respect for the land we call home."

Here's some of the comments that came in after I shared Willie's social media post: 

Darla Larson: My parents were in Yellowstone for their honeymoon when the earthquake happened.

Sandy Smollack: It woke my Mother up in Billings. She told me after this that it closed off the hot water that fed the Montaqua hot springs.

Bob Stover II: A friend of mine was there, and trapped for days. He was old enough to remember the whole thing. I love going there and checking it out, over the decades.

There's some great comments on Willie's page below as well.

Here's a video from the US Forest Service about the Hebgen Lake Earthquake.

On August 17, 1959, one of nature's most powerful forces was unleashed in the Madison Canyon, just outside the border of Yellowstone National Park. The canyon was packed with people, cars, tents, and trailers. At just before midnight a massive earthquake shook the canyon and in a few seconds, changed the land and the people forever. The Madison River Canyon Earthquake area provides a vivid reminder of how the landscape and the people were suddenly changed on that August night.