The Historical Museum is happy to offer many field trip activities based on Missoula County and Western Montana History.
Grounds Tours – abbreviated stops at multiple buildings – take your pick of several short stops on the grounds.
Tour Stops:
Homestead Cabin – Travel back in time to see what life was like for homesteaders in the Hayes Homestead Cabin. Students will interact with artifacts and participate in homestead chores.
St. Michael’s Church – Visit the oldest building on the Fort Grounds. St. Michael’s Church was built in 1863, and has held many different roles in it’s lifetime. Students will learn the importance of St. Michael’s church for Hellgate residents, and for the sisters of providence.
Grant Creek School House – Don’t be late for school 1907 style! Visitors will have the unique one room school house experience, complete with slate boards, and a lesson in old fashioned discipline!
NCO quarters – Visit the oldest ‘in situ’ building at the Fort. Built in 1878 the Non-commissioned officers quarters was home to the sergeants of the 7th infantry in 1878 and later the 25th infantry African American bicycle soldiers.
Missoula’s Streetcar #50 – Step on board Missoula’s last remaining streetcar!
Fire Lookout Tour – Sliderock Lookout and Miller Creek Guard Cabin – Climb high and learn to spot fires like they did at Sliderock Lookout in the 1930’s.
Tour Themes:
Historic Apple Pressing – During the fall we invite groups to make apple cider with an old fashioned apple press, learn about the anatomy of an apple and the significance of apples in Montana.
Fort Fizzle – Missoula’s response to the Nez Perce – Using hands-on artifacts in the NCO quarters, learn about the clash between the Nez Perce and Fort Missoula’s soldiers in the Bitterroot Valley.
25th Infantry Bicycle Corps Activity – Find out what it would have been like to be a bike solider in the 1890’s.
Civilian Conservation Corps – Fort Missoula was the regional headquarters for the civilian conservation corps. Learn how the CCC boys built roads, bridges, and greatly improved our National Parks.
Alien Detention Center – Learn the history of Fort Missoula’s WWII Internment Camp and the experiences of the Japanese and Italian men who were incarcerated here.
Forestry Tour – Combination of lumber related structures and the locomotive
Transportation – Learn how transportation has changed over time by visiting the locomotive, streetcar, fire truck, drummond depot and more.
Making History Through Objects – Become a history detective, touch, measure, and ponder mystery artifacts! Students will learn how artifacts can deepen our understanding of the past. Can be done at the museum, or as an outreach activity at your site.
Indoor Museum Exhibit Options:
Main Gallery – The Road to Today: 250 Years of Missoula’s History – Our permanent exhibit on Missoula County History.
Orientation Gallery – changing exhibits, call for more information.
Heath Gallery – Looking Like the Enemy: The Internment of the Issei at Fort Missoula. – Rotating gallery that change approx. every two years.