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Book Launch
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Michelle Nowling
Phone: 406-363-3338
Email: director@ravallimuseum.org
Date: May 29, 2025
Local Author Unearths Untold Stories of the Bitterroot Valley in New Book, I Didn’t Know That!
HAMILTON, MT – Acclaimed local historian and fourth-generation Bitterroot Valley native L. Allen “Doc” Strate is back with his most revealing work yet. His new book, I Didn’t Know That!, offers readers a compelling journey into the lesser-known and long-forgotten stories of Montana’s Bitterroot Valley, bringing fresh light to the people, places, and moments that have shaped the region’s unique identity.
Strate, a retired professor and award-winning author, returned to his hometown of Hamilton after a distinguished career in law and academia, including decades on the faculty of the Business School at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Since his return, he has dedicated himself to meticulously researching the hidden corners of Bitterroot Valley history.
I Didn’t Know That!, the fourth volume in Strate’s popular series on Bitterroot Valley history, introduces readers to dramatic and surprising stories from the region’s past—including armed conflicts between local sheepmen and cattlemen, the mysterious records of gypsy travelers, and the forgotten training of female pilots (WAFs) in Hamilton during WWII. From the $30,000 Opera House to the Bitter Root Kid’s boxing exploits, Strate’s vignettes paint a vibrant and nuanced portrait of a valley rich in heritage.
“I wanted to give voice to the stories that don’t always make the history books,” Strate says. “These are the anecdotes, the people, and the details that make this valley’s history so vivid and alive.”
To celebrate the release, the public is invited to a special book launch and presentation with the author on Thursday, May 29 at 6:30 p.m. at the Ravalli County Museum, located at 205 Bedford Street in Hamilton, MT. All of Strate’s books will be available for purchase and signing at the event. Admission is by donation.
Strate’s previous works, including Red Lights, High Lights and Low Lights, From Battlefields to Beet Fields, and Vignettes of Montana’s Bitterroot Valley, have become essential reads for anyone interested in Montana’s past. His work has earned him recognition from the Montana State Historical Society, as well as a David Walter Research Fellowship and the “Unsung Hero” Award from the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce.
I Didn’t Know That! is soon available at local bookstores, historical society gift shops, and online through major retailers.
About the Author
- Allen “Doc” Strate is a lifelong Montanan, historian, retired law professor, and recipient of multiple academic and community honors. A graduate of the University of Montana, UNLV, and Gonzaga Law School, he now lives in Hamilton, MT, where he continues to uncover and share the remarkable hidden history of the Bitterroot Valley.