Special Exhibits

In the Lobby Gallery:

Throughout his life Edmund B. Craney, a prominent Montana radio pioneer, encouraged Montanans to embrace their own artistic culture. This is illustrated by his utilization of local musicians and entertainers on his early radio broadcasts, and is further reflected by the paintings and sculptures that he collected. Consequently, Ed Craney's art collection was comprised solely of art created by Montana artists. By limiting his collecting in this way, Craney not only amassed a stellar sampling of Montana art, he also furthered the careers of many Montana artists by purchasing their works.

Having witnessed many of Charles M. Russell's treasured art pieces leave the state, Ed Craney wanted to insure that his collection of Montana art stayed in the Treasure State for future generations to enjoy. As a result of this concern, he promised Olaf C. Seltzer that he would leave his collection in Montana. Through the generosity of the Greater Montana Foundation in their recent donation to the Montana Historical Society this promise has been fulfilled.

Artists represented in the collection include: Olaf C. Seltzer, Charles M. Russell, William Standing, Ralph DeCamp, Edgar S. Paxson, Ace Powell, Nancy McLaughlin, James Masterson, and Charles Biel.

In addition to the Craney Art Collection, received as a gift from the Greater Montana Foundation, in 1978 Ed Craney gave the Montana Historical Society an extensive collection of early radio broadcasting material including equipment, photographs, and archival records. For more information on Ed Craney and early radio in Montana, read Mary Murphy's article, "Messenger of the New Age", in Montana Magazine of Western History, Autumn, 1989.

---

In the Northeast Gallery:

Jointly sponsored by the Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association, the Montana Department of Transportation, and the Montana Historical Society, On Track: The Railroad Photographs of Warren McGee features the stunning photographs taken by Warren McGee over a 60-year period, beginning in the 1930s and continuing through the 1990s. The exhibit celebrates the photograph collection as it chronicles and pays tribute to trains in 20th century Montana and the surrounding region. This exhibit will also be part of the Museum's traveling exhibit program beginning in June 2008.

---

In the Reflections Gallery:

This exhibition - which was organized and circulated by Lee Silliman of Lee's Graphic's in Deer Lodge, Montana - presents a rare collection of vintage William Henry Jackson "alberttypes" that are among the very first photographic depictions of Yellowstone National Park. Jackson served as the official photographer for Ferdinand Hayden's epic governmental exploration of the Yellowstone Plateau during the summer of 1871. Following the completion of the expedition, Jackson's images were reproduced as alberttypes and featured as part of the lobbying effort that was mounted in the successful attempt to have Yellowstone established as the world's first national park

• Privacy & Security
• Accessibility
• Contact Us
• Search