Rocky Mountain Museum of Military History
Contact
(406) 549-5346
PO Box 7263, Missoula, MT 59807
Website
Headquartered at Buildings T-310 and T-316 at Fort Missoula, The Rocky Mountain Museum of Military History is adjacent to the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula.
The Rocky Mountain Museum of Military History promotes the commemoration and study of the U.S. armed forces, from the frontier period to the present, drawing upon a collection of military artifacts and documents. The museum is engaged in restoring the fort’s Great Depression-era Civilian Conservation Corps Building for use as a permanent headquarters. When completed, the complex will provide permanent exhibition outlets for the vehicle collection of the Northwest National Military Foundation and the rare World War I items of the National Doughboy Historical Society. The museum is open year-round and presents a variety of exhibits and programs on military history topics.
The museum welcomes contributions of military and homefront items, as well as wartime memoirs.\n\nContact executive director Tate Jones at (406) 549-5346 for further details, or visit their Facebook page at
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rocky-Mountain-Museum-of-Military-History/433110830054286
Hours of Operation:
June 1st to Labor Day: Open 12-5 p.m. Seven Days per Week
Labor Day to June 1st: Open 12-5 p.m. Saturdays & Sundays
Families First Learning Lab
Contact
(406) 721-7690
455 E Main St, Missoula MT 59802
Website
About
For 25 years, Families First has been empowering families through parent education and learning through play experiences. While our facility and program offerings have looked different over the years, the heart of our work has remained the same. In November of 2019, we launched a rebranding campaign that included a name change from Families First Children’s Museum to Families First Learning Lab. The name change to Families First Learning Lab honors the tradition and history of our organization, while also strengthening and deepening the intention and impact of our work. Families First Learning Lab captures the spirit of an organization that is welcoming to all families, inspires hands on learning, and strengthens families through education, connection, play, and partnership. We are thrilled our next organizational chapter involves a move to the new Missoula Public Library opening in the summer of 2020.
Families First Learning Lab will occupy the 2nd Floor of the new facility alongside spectrUM Discovery Area. Each partner in the new facility brings strengths and areas of expertise that collectively propel us one step closer to the shared goal of closing knowledge, opportunity, and achievement gaps for Missoula children and families. While Families First Learning Lab will no longer be a traditional “children’s museum” it WILL BE an inspirational place of learning, growth, and development for families. For the first time in our 25 year history, family education will happen in the same space as hands on learning through play experiences, giving parents a chance to model the skills they learn in workshops with their children. Activities for children and families will be intentional and meaningful and will meet the following goals:
- Build parenting knowledge and skills through workshops and multi session classes
- Provide a place and opportunities for social connection
- Develop social-emotional skills in children through hands on learning through play experiences
- Link families to professional support systems in time of need
- Build parental resilience by providing tools and resources to build confidence to navigate challenging times
Hours of Operation:
M: 10-6, T: 10-6, W: Closed, Th: 10-6, F: 10-6, Sa: 10-6, Su: Closed
Missoula Smokejumpers Center
Contact
(406) 329-4934
5765 West Broadway Street, Missoula, MT 59808
Website
Smokejumpers are highly trained specialists who parachute into remote areas of national forests to fight the spread of wildfires. The nation’s largest training base for smokejumpers is located in Missoula. The remodeled (1992) visitor center at the depot offers updated displays, dioramas and videos related to fire suppression. Guided tours are given of the parachute loft and training facilities. Open memorial day through labor day 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Duration of tour 45 minutes to an hour. Minimum time to visit depot without tour: 20 minutes. Admission free, donations accepted.
Historical Museum at Fort Missoula
Contact
(406) 728-3476
3400 Captain Rawn Way, Missoula, MT 59804
Website
Venue
Unapproved
Dining Capacity:
The Historical Museum at Fort Missoula was established by community effort in 1975 to save what remained of original Fort Missoula, and to interpret the area’s history. The museum is located on 32 acres in the heart of historic Fort Missoula. Its collection includes 30,000 objects including 13 historic structures. As a major historical museum in Western Montana, the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula provides a valuable educational and cultural experience for the community and entire region. The museum’s indoor galleries contain both permanent and changing exhibits that deal with topics of interest from the period of early exploration to modern times.
Montana Natural History Center
Contact
(406) 327-0405
120 Hickory St., Suite A Missoula, MT 59801
Website
The mission of the Montana Natural History Center is to promote and cultivate the appreciation, understanding and stewardship of nature through education. MNHC is a non-profit organization founded in 1991 by a group of educators who had the vision to create a natural history center as a resource for schools and the public. Originally housed on the University of Montana campus, MNHC continued to grow and outgrow its rented space at Fort Missoula. In 2004, MNHC purchased its first home at 120 Hickory Street, at the edge of McCormick Park in the heart of Missoula.\n\n \n\nHours\n\nTuesday – Friday: 9am-5pm\n\nSaturday: 12pm-4pm\n\nSunday – Monday: Closed\n\nFor information regarding venue rental, please contact Executive Assistant Lena Viall
Northern Rockies Heritage Center
Contact
(406) 728-3662
30 Fort Missoula Rd., Missoula MT 59804
Website
Venue
$1695 Plus Deposit
Unapproved
Handicap Accessible
Dining Capacity:
The Northern Rockies Heritage Center (NRHC) was established as a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation in 1993 to preserve part of the remaining historic property at Fort Missoula, a former military post originally located on two hundred eighty acres of secluded valley floor bordering the Bitterroot River in western Montana.\n\nOwned and operated by the U. S. Army since 1877, the facility was closed in 1994, under the Base Realignment and Closure Act (BRAC). The U. S. Congress authorized NRHC to administer sixteen acres and fourteen structures on the property for historical, cultural or educational purposes. The original NRHC Operations Plan was approved by the Montana State Historic Preservation Office in April 1995. All buildings under NRHCownership are on the National Register of Historic Places.\n\nMission\n\nThe mission of the NRHC is the preservation of the heritage and the integrity of historic Fort Missoula. The Directors of NRHC have pursued this mission through adaptive re-use of the buildings on our campus, repair with historic preservation in mind, and awareness of the needs of the community. The Board of Directors and Staff of NRHC recognize the uniqueness of this historical resource and desire to bring together many fields of study in developing the Center. We have an interest in connecting history, geology, and geography through studies in aspects of military science, the Native American presence, how extractive industries affected the growth of the West, agriculture versus urbanization, immigration, transportation, local culture and other topics of interest.\n\nVenue\n\nProvides full use Heritage Hall (T-2), Villa (B-30), and beautiful Parade Grounds as venues for weddings and community events. Leases low-cost office and studio spaces to museums, galleries, educational, artistic, environmental, cultural and other community enhancing organizations and endeavors.\n\nPlease contact booking agent at (406) 396-4750 for further details.
Montana Museum of Art & Culture
Contact
(406) 243-2019
Montana Museum of Art & Culture\nGallery Location: Meloy and Paxson Galleries, UM PARTV Center\nOffice Location: Main Hall 006, UM \nUniversity of Montana\nMissoula, MT 59812\n
Website
Montana Museum of Art & Culture is home to one of the oldest and most prominent fine art collections in the Rocky Mountain Northwest.\n\nA year after The University of Montana was established in Missoula in 1893, the Montana Museum of Art & Culture (MMAC) Permanent Collection was begun.\n\nToday, MMAC has an international reputation and its staff maintains (in seven locations) more than 11,000 objects, including significant historic and contemporary artworks.\nThe Museum also offers many ways to get involved in building Montana’s treasure trove of art and culture.
Missoula Art Museum
Contact
406.728.0447
335 N. Pattee St., Missoula, MT 59802
Website
Venue
$1200-$1400
70-400
Allowed
Handicap Accessible
Dining Capacity:30
MAM must provide bar
The Missoula Art Museum is committed to educating the community through contemporary art and to developing and conserving the Art Museum Collection in order to preserve and make accessible our cultural heritage. With the ongoing dedication of artists, educators, community members and volunteers, MAM (Missoula Art Museum) has grown from a summer arts festival to a thriving institution serving the Northwest. Accredited by the American Association of Museums since 1987, MAM develops and hosts approximately 25 exhibitions annually in six galleries located in the Carnegie building. MAM’s exhibition programs encompass diverse media form local and international contemporary artists.\n\nWith education at the core of its mission, MAM offers tours and classes for all ages, and collaborates with local art, literary and music communities to develop lectures and workshops. MAM also participates in the Arts in the Schools and Neighborhoods Program, which takes visual, literary and performance art directly to Missoula’s most at-risk children in partnership with the Flagship Program. MAM also offers classes through the Summer Art School. Programs like gallery tours, artist lectures and panel discussions are designed for every exhibit.\n\nMAM manages the Missoula County Art Collection, as well as its own collection, which is distinguished by the Contemporary American Indian Art Collection, and works from regional and local artists, including: Dale Chihuly, Jacob Lawrence, Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, Susan Stewart and E.S. Paxson. MAM’s acquisitions in 2005 include work by Terry Melton, Preston Singletary (Tlingit), Branson Stevenson, Gail Tremblay (Onondaga Micmac). MAM has published dozens of artist catalogues throughout the years, which are for sale in the ‘Temporary Contemporary’ museum and online.
