Historical Fort Missoula

Support the Museum

Join the Friends of the Historical Museum

Guests at Annual FundraiserHistorical Museum Guests at Annual Fundraiser

The Friends of the Historical Museum is a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to the support of the Historical Museum in its mission to bring history alive in Western Montana. While Missoula County provides the Museum with its funding for utilities and basic operations through a permissive tax mill levy authorized by the Montana State Legislature, money for educational programs, exhibits and restoration of the grounds and historic buildings on the site must come from elsewhere. The Friends of the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula was incorporated in 1977, as a 501(c)(3) organization, to provide that support.

Membership fees are the most important source of revenue for restoration and other exhibit and educational activities. In recent years the Friends have assisted the Museum in moving historical buildings to the site, in improving the grounds, in purchasing objects for the Museum's collection, creating new exhibits and educational outreach programs, and in helping with other long-term projects.

If you would like to join us in this mission, please complete our Membership Form (PDF) and send it to:
Historical Museum at Fort Missoula
Building #322
Fort Missoula
Missoula, MT 59804-7207
OR Fax it to 406.543.6277

Memberships make excellent gifts too! If you'd like to give the gift of museum membership fill out and send in the Gift Membership Form.

Thank you for considering Membership in the Friends!

Volunteer at the Historical Museum

historical museum volunteers at the annual picnicHistorical Museum Volunteers at Annual Picnic

We're always looking for volunteers to help in the museum. There are several areas in which you can share your time including:

  • Museum Store and Front Desk
  • Children's Programs
  • Adult Programs
  • Special Events
  • Tours and Museum Interpretation
  • Research Local History
  • Curatorial Support (Working w/ artifacts)
  • Assist with Exhibit Construction
  • Photography
  • Grounds Maintenance

To volunteer fill out our Volunteer Application Form or print and complete the Volunteer Application(PDF) and mail it to:

Carolyn Thompson, Education Assistant
Building #322
Fort Missoula, Missoula MT 59804
or email it to cpthompson@montana.com

Missoula History Minutes

TEMP

28. Fort Owen

In 1850 John Owen bought St. Mary's Mission from the Jesuits for $250. At first the fort was surrounded by a stockade of logs standing in an upright position to protect the fort from Blackfeet raids. Each night, horses were driven inside the fort for protection. One night the stockade did not stop the crafty Blackfeet, for they dug up some of the logs in the stockade and drove all the horses out. It didn't provide much security for the settlers either; in 1852, John Dobson was killed and scalped by the Blackfeet Indians within sight of the fort.

In 1856 Owen hired new arrival David Pattee to build a sawmill and a gristmill. By 1858 the fort had grown in value from $250 to $36,000. After a treaty with the Blackfeet in 1855, life at Fort Owen was relatively peaceful and Owen lived like a land baron.

Read More Missoula History Minutes