In Scotland: A Tale of Two Bridges and One Poet

Regular and lottery registration open on January 8, 2026.
Dates: March 2, 2026
Meets: M from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
 Location: Bozeman, MT - Museum of the Rockies
Cost:  $0.00

There are still openings remaining at this time.

Date Day Time
03/02/2026Monday3 PM to 5 PM

OR

Please note: This course program requires membership in a 2025-2026 OLLI at MSU Membership

Description

In eastern Scotland, there are two long and remarkable bridges on the railway line between Edinburgh and Dundee. One has a legacy of tragedy, diligently commemorated by William McGonagall, who was proclaimed "the greatest Bad Verse writer of his age." The other bridge is an engineering marvel that became a visual symbol of Scotland and its industrial heritage. The program will include the improbable enduring popularity of the self-proclaimed "poet and tragedian" William McGonagall and the useful meaning of a "Forth Bridge Job."

Program Takeaways

Participants will learn about the risks and rewards of, respectively, under- and over-engineering of vital structures, as well as Scottish pride, humor and quirky affections.

Fee:  $0.00

Bozeman, MT - Museum of the Rockies

600 West Kagy Blvd
Bozeman, Montana 59717

Dale Martin

Dale Martin taught history at MSU for a quarter century. He taught Montana history, the First World War, and the 20th-century Middle East. He grew up in the Seattle area and attended Washington State University-Pullman. He did archaeological fieldwork in the U.S. and overseas for a couple of decades.