Historical Fort Missoula

Visit the Museum

How to Find Us

The Historical Museum is in Bldg. 322 at Fort Missoula.
Entrance to the museum is on South Avenue, across from Big Sky High School

Museum Hours (self-guided):

Labor Day Weekend - Memorial Day Weekend

Tuesday - Sunday: 12:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Closed Monday

Memorial Day Weekend - Labor Day Weekend

Monday - Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: 12:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Grounds are always open, always free.

The museum is closed on all major holidays except Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day; the business office and research library are open weekdays 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., or by appointment. If you would like more information, or to arrange a guided tour contact:
Historical Museum at Fort Missoula
Building 322, Fort Missoula
Missoula, MT 59804-7207

Email: ftmslamuseum@montana.com

Phone: 406.728.3476
Fax: 406.543.6277

Admission Prices:

Students - $1.00
Seniors - $2.00
Adults - $3.00
Max. Family - $10.00

Members of the Friends of the Historical Museum and Children under 6 are Free.

Call 406.728.3476 for tour price information.

Missoula History Minutes

TEMP

44. Rotten Row

Missoula's first slum appeared around the early 1870s and was known as Shacktown. This slum, located along the west side of Rattlesnake Creek was occupied mostly by Indians who existed on the little money they could earn trading ponies, hunting, fishing and loading freight. Some of the shanties had walls made only of cowhides. When better homes were built in the area, Shacktown was moved to Parker's island in the Clark Fork River south of West Front Street, named after John Parker who lived there in a two-room shack. By 1875, the island had become settled with honky tonks and bawdy houses and was know as "rotten row." When the bawdy women or alcoholics died, they were often buried without ceremony or markers behind the shacks. Later, the island became part of the mainland when the channel separating the two was filled in.

Read More Missoula History Minutes