On August 17, 1959, this area suffered the most devastating modern geologic disaster in the Rocky Mountains when a magnitude 7.5 earthquake on the Richter scale violently shook the earth, triggered a massive landslide, opened large surface cracks that expanded and contracted, and tore fault lines miles long into the mountainsides, permanently altering the landscape and causing 28 deaths. Geologic tensions remain active underground despite the tranquil setting. In 1960, 37,800 acres within the Gallatin National Forest were federally designated to interpret the 1959 Hebgen Lake Earthquake and provide for public use and understanding of its striking earthquake features and geology. Along highway 287, a series of stops across a 16 mile stretch presents different perspectives on the event, and the Earthquake Lake Visitor Center stands directly atop the massive landslide triggered by the quake. The highway also slid into Hebgen Lake, cutting off links to emergency services and help.