Fort Missoula was established as a permanent military post in 1877 and built in response to requests of local townspeople and settlers for protection in the event of conflict with western Montana Indian tribes. It was intended as a major outpost for the region; however, area residents also were quite aware of the payroll, contracts, and employment opportunities Fort Missoula would provide. Fort Missoula never had walls; rather, it was an “open fort,” a design common for posts located west of the Mississippi, except during it’s time used at an Alien Detention Center during WWII.
Today, it is a place of protection for history and a wonderful home of knowledge about the fort itself, the surrounding area, and the people who have lived in the area.
