Exhibits
Main Missoula Gallery
"The Road to Today: 250 Years of Missoula's History"
"Permanent" exhibit showcasing Missoula's history.
Two Man Saw Interactive Exhibit in Missoula History ExhibitHeath Gallery
NOTE: Exhibitions rotate every 2 years and open last Sunday in March.
"When The Mountains Roared: The Fire Of 1910"
100th Anniversary collaborative project with USFS Region 1. Runs 03/28/10 - 01/03/12
"When the racing crowd reached the trains the rush to get into the cars was a panic. Men fought with women for precedence, well dressed men so eager to get into the coaches and save themselves that they forgot all the deference to women they had been taught. . ."
- "Daily Idaho Press," Wallace, August 22, 1910.
The Big Burn of 1910 transformed the West, reinvented the infant Forest Service, redefined the way we would look at fire for nearly a century, destroyed millions of acres of forests in western Montana and Idaho, and threatened Missoula's very existence.
The Historical Museum at Fort Missoula will open it's new exhibit, When the Mountains Roared: The Fire of 1910 on Sunday, March 28, 2010, to commemorate the centennial of this transformative fire. The exhibit will include many never-before-seen photographs, actual objects from the fire, a recreated fire camp complete with fire, sound, and scented special effects, and an interactive computer station to further explore the event with more photographs, stories, letters, artistic interpretation, posters, newspaper accounts, and reminiscences.
The 1910 fire "burned a scar in history that is both wide and deep, with its scabs still festering."
- "The Big Blowup," Spencer, 1956
For more information, contact:
Robert M. Brown, 406.728.3476
Fax: 406.543.6277
ftmslamuseum@montana.com
"Creating Citizens & Community: Educating Missoula County"
Chronicling history of education throughout Missoula County [Title TBA]. Will open April 27, 2012 and run until January 3, 2014.
Orientation Gallery
"MCHS- Class of 1960"
Missoula County High School exhibit. Runs 07/01/10 - 11/01/10
"Snowflake Sonata"
Annual holiday exhibition featuring musical items from Museum's collections, supplemented by loaned materials. Runs 11/21/10 - 01/03/11.
"Recent Acquisitions"
A selection of materials recently donated to the Museum. Runs 01/10/11 - 06/15/11
North Gallery
NOTE: Exhibitions rotate every year and open last Sunday in April.
"Let Wonderland Tell Its Story: William Henry Jackson's 1871 Yellowstone Alberttypes"
Traveling exhibition featuring William Henry Jackson's 1871 Yellowstone Alberttypes (photos) supplemented by Museum's collections, courtesy of Lee Silliman, Lee's Graphics. Runs 04/25/10 - 01/3/11
"United We Will Win"
In-house traveling exhibition featuring Museum's collection of WWII propaganda posters, supplemented by Museum's collections and loaned materials. Largest WWII propaganda collection outside the National Archives. Runs 04/24/11 - 01/03/12
Outbuildings & Off-Site Exhibits
The Museum Grounds are always open, always free. We have a printable Grounds Tour Map available to you to asist with your Historical Museum Visit.
Download Grounds Tour Map (PDF)
ADC Barrack
"Detained for the Duration - Ft. Missoula Alien Detention Center (1941-1944)"
Italian: From Sea to Shining Sea; American Japanese: Crown Thy Good w/ Brotherhood [ADC Internee exhibit]
Running 05/29/00 - Present & 05/27/02 - Present
St. Michael's Church
"Sisters of Providence" .Sister's of Providence & Jesuit exhibit. Running 05/04/08 - Present
Drummond Depot
"Rails Through Missoula (Waiting Room)" Missoula railroad exhibit. Running 07/04/1997 - Present
Restored "The John Barrows Memorial Ticket Office" Running 05/01 - Present
Miller Creek Guard Cabin
Tipi-Burner, c.1946; moved 2006. "Fire Lookouts" Fire lookout exhibit. Running 1988 - Present.
Homestead Cabin
Closed for restoration and exhibit development. Running 04/01/08 - Present
Sliderock Lookout
"Fire Lookout Exhibit" Running 1983 - Present.
Root Cellar
Exterior restoration completed 2004, remains closed to public. Running 2004 - Present
Grant Creek School
"Grant Creek Schoolhouse" (Coatroom) Running 05/21/94 - Present
Timber Building
"Timber" Timber industry exhibit, to be re-envisioned and expanded with addition of Mike Roney Crosscut Saw Collection. Running 04/24/99 - Present
Off-Site Exhibits
"When The Mountains Roared: The Fire Of 1910," title TBD
Murray, Idaho
Selection of materials pertaining to Heath Gallery Exhibition. Running 07/10/10 - Present
"Then & Now, Re-Photographing Missoula"
Msla. Co. Courthouse
Traveling exhibit displayed in part at Courthouse and in part at City Hall; cooperative project done in collaboration w/ Missoula. Historic Preservation Office (Phillip Maechling) and UM Archives. Running 5/21/08 - 12/30/11
"Edgar S. Paxson Work Shirt & Painter's Palette"
Msla. Co. Courthouse
Vitrine exhibit in 2nd floor Courthouse Rotunda. Running 04/22/09 - 12/30/11
"No Ordinary Time, No Ordinary Place"
Msla. Intl. Airport
Selection of materials from Museum's permanent ADC & 25th. Infantry collections. Running 09/01/10 - Indefinite
"The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of: Echoes Of The Maltese Falcon"
Msla. Public Library
1930's display pertaining to book chosen for "Big Read" initiative, "The Maltese Falcon". Running 10/01/10 - 11/15/10
"When The Mountains Roared: The Fire Of 1910," title TBD
Seeley Lake Historical Society
Selection of materials pertaining to Heath Gallery Exhibition. Runs 08/10/10 - 01/03/12
"Vacation"
Seeley-Swan High School
Selection of the Museum's vacation exhibits on display in the High School Library. Runs 09/08 - 08/13/10
"Just Add Water"
Seeley-Swan High School
Selection of the Museum's 'Milltown Dam' traveling exhibit displayed in the High School Library. Runs 08/26/10 - 08/12/11
