Check back routinely for new announcements.
August 2020
Historical Museum at Fort Missoula Regretfully Postpones the 11th Annual Used Book Sale Extravaganza
For a decade folks from near and far have attended the Friends of the Historical Museum’s Used Book Sale to peruse upwards of 60,000 titles of all genres. Our community’s love of books is legendary, and we are so very thankful to be part of it.
However, we are in extraordinary times and due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the leadership of the Historical Museum has made the difficult decision to postpone this year’s event for the safety of our community, volunteers, and staff. Currently, the Historical Museum is limiting all groups to a maximum of 50 people with proper physical distancing. Unfortunately, this restriction makes a large community event like the book sale impossible.
The Friends of HMFM board and Museum staff are closely monitoring the situation with advisement from the Missoula City-County Health Dept. In the spring of 2021, the Friends board and staff will meet and decide whether we can hold the sale in the spring or fall of 2021.
On behalf of the staff and Boards of the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula, we wish you all continued good health, and we look forward to the day when we can gather again, find that special book (or many special books), and celebrate our love of literacy, history, and community.
____________________________________________________
July, 2020
We are now accepting applications for Preserving Missoula County’s History Grants.
This program is open to all Missoula County non-profit organizations involved in historic preservation and interpretation projects in Missoula County.
For details and applications contact Matt Lautzenheiser, Executive Director, Historical Museum at Fort Missoula, 3400 Captain Rawn Way, Missoula, MT, 59804; 258-3471 or at mlautzenheiser@missoulacounty.us. Application deadline is October 15, 2020 (earlier submission is recommended). Click here for more information.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Due to the resurgence in COVID-19, we have temporarily closed the Main Museum building through August.
The closure does not impact the grounds which are open 24/7. Outdoor exhibits and historic buildings will be open daily.
Historic Park Hours:
Monday – Saturday: 10am – 4pm and Sunday: 12pm – 4pm
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Book Donations are being accepted.
All book donations accepted by pre-arranged appointment only. NO EXCEPTIONS. Please, do not bring books to the museum without an appointment. We will not be able to accept them. Thank you. To donate books e-mail Matt Lautzenheiser or call 406-258-3471.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Temporary collections donation moratorium
Due to the pandemic and that we are currently in the process of a collections storage assessment through the American Association of Museums, we are temporarily suspending all donations to the permanent collection. We will re-evaluate the situation in September. Thank you for your understanding.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Construction on Engine #7’s protective display shed is almost done!
A huge shout out to the businesses who have so generously helped us with this project: Hunts Timbers Inc., Jackson Contractor Group, Boyce Lumber and Design Center, Western Excavating, Midway Rental, Knife River, CD’A Metals, MOMs Rental, Pacific Steel & Recycling, Montana Nuts and Bolts, Western States-Cat Rental Store, Heritage Timber, and Rodda Paint Co…
So, come on out to the Museum and check out Engine #7’s new look. And if you would like to be involved with the project join our Engine #7 Facebook Group or E-mail List.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
June, 2020
Historical Museum at Fort Missoula Joins the Japanese American Memorial Pilgrimages (JAMP) & the National Park Service’s 9-week Virtual Community Pilgrimage: Tadaima! Spread across nine themed weeks, “Tadaima!” will feature pre-recorded and live-streamed content, as well as opportunities to engage with presenters and gather, virtually, as a community. Each week will focus on a theme, from immigration in the 1800s to redress in the 1980s.
During week #4 (July 5th – 11th) The Historical Museum will be sharing our award-winning documentary, An Alien Place, and virtual tours of the Alien Detention Center grounds, including WWII Barracks, Loyalty Hearing Courtroom, Detention Camp exhibit, and much more.
Registration is OPEN and free. Tune in on your own schedule to watch, listen, and learn. Visit the Japanese American Memorial Pilgrimages website (www.jampilgrimages.com) or their Facebook page.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
We are in extraordinary times and due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the leadership of the Historical Museum has made the difficult decision to cancel this year’s 4th at the Fort celebration for the safety of our community, volunteers, and staff. Currently, the Historical Museum is limiting all groups to a maximum of 50 people with proper physical distancing. Unfortunately, this restriction makes a large community celebration like the Annual 4th at the Fort impossible.
On behalf of the staff and Boards of the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula, we wish you all continued good health, and we look forward to the day when we can gather again to celebrate again.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
We are happy to announce HMFM has begun accepting book donations!
All book donations accepted by pre-arranged appointment only. NO EXCEPTIONS. Please, do not bring books to the museum without an appointment. We will not be able to accept them. Thank you. To donate books e-mail Matt Lautzenheiser at mlautzenheiser@missoulacounty.us or call 406-258-3471.
To help us reduce risks for our volunteers, if you can, please pre-sort your books into boxes before your scheduled drop-off or pick-up date. Visit https://fortmissoulamuseum.org/event/annual-used-book-sale/ for a complete list of genres.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
During our closure, Missoula County Public Works partnered with the Historical Museum to upgrade our parking lot. We now have a paved drive and parking area, sidewalks, and an improved water drainage system. No more potholes!
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Historical Museum at Fort Missoula was selected as a 2020 Leadership in History Award of Excellence winner by the American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) for the exhibit No Enemy Movement Observed: The Vietnam War Through the Eyes of a Frenchtown Marine. The AASLH Leadership in History Awards is the nation’s most prestigious competition for recognition of achievement in state and local history. We are very honored to receive this award.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________
We have been uploading our photograph collection to the Montana Memory Project database. Now, from anywhere in the world, you can access the fascinating photographs housed within the Museum. The first collection available is the Fort Missoula Alien Detention Center Photograph Collection, with many more to come.
Visit www.mtmemory.org to see photos from Montana’s past.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
April, 2020
The Historical Museum at Fort Missoula awarded Japanese American Confinement Sites grant from the National Park Service.
The 22 projects funded will help tell the stories of the more than 120,000 Japanese Americans, two-thirds of whom were U.S. citizens, imprisoned by the U.S. government during World War II following the attack on Pearl Harbor by the nation of Japan in 1941.
The Historical Museum at Fort Missoula is very pleased to announce that we are one of the 22 awardees to receive a grant from the Japanese American Confinement Sites Grant Program.
With these funds we will conduct an assessment of two original barracks moved back to the Museum grounds, which is the site of a former World War II Department of Justice internment camp. The assessment will guide the restoration of the buildings and plan for their historic interpretation.
________________________________________________________________________________________________