The Surprising Origins Of Montana’s Favorite Hat

There's a lot that symbolizes the American West—wild mustangs, brands that have stayed in the same ranching families for generations, and bison grazing under big, open skies. But there's one item that might just top them all when it comes to iconic western wear: the cowboy hat.

Out here in Montana, cowboy hats aren't just for decoration—they're a way of life. You'll see 'em everywhere. Some folks are just passing through, picking out a hat from a downtown shop to wear for a selfie and some Montana memories. Others? They've been wearing one since they were big enough to climb up on a horse. Ranchers, rodeo kids, cowboys, cowgirls—these hats are part of who they are.

But what most people don't realize is that cowboy hats come with a long, rich history. They've evolved into a symbol of western pride and practicality, but they didn't just pop up overnight. There are countless ways to shape, wear, and style a cowboy hat. You can tell a lot about someone by the way they wear it.

So Where Did the Cowboy Hat Come From?

Believe it or not, the cowboy hat doesn't have one clear-cut origin story—it's more of a mashup of styles and influences that evolved over time.

The first real version of what we now consider the modern cowboy hat came from John B. Stetson. Yep, that Stetson. In 1865, the Philadelphia hat maker designed what he called the "Boss of the Plains"—a wide-brimmed, high-crowned hat.

The hat was heavily inspired by the vaqueros of Mexico, the original cowboys, who wore wide-brimmed hats to beat the brutal heat. That style, in turn, came from the Spanish soldiers before them. So while Stetson made the cowboy hat famous, its roots go way back.

From there, the cowboy hat started to evolve into all the shapes, styles, and creases we see today—from high crowns to low pinches, cattleman creases to rodeo flares. Every region, every cowboy, and every job seemed to shape it a little differently.

Fun Cowboy Hat Fact

Before the wide-brimmed hat became the western staple, most cowboys actually wore derby hats—yep, like the round-topped Bowler.

Get our free mobile app

So yeah—just like the endless styles you see today, the cowboy hat has a long, layered history behind it. And honestly, this is just scratching the surface.