Celebrate Montana history with us! Your interest and love of Montana’s past energizes our work. With your help, more real stories of the past can be shared and more history is preserved for future generations. We invite you to enjoy, engage, explore, know, visit,and preserve Montana history by joining and supporting the Montana Historical Society.
Upcoming Films and Events
Saturdays in November, every hour on the hour beginning at 10:00 a.m.
We will be showing historic films from the MHS film archives (Note: No film will be shown at times when another program is schedule for the auditorium).
- November 3 – Interesting People in MT: Jean Sullivan and Montana and Its Aircraft
- November 10 – no films
- November 17 – Daphne Bugbee-Jones: Montana Modernist and On Her Own Terms: The Outfitting Adventures of Mary Faith Hoeffner
- November 24 – Construction of Fort Peck Dam
Friday and Saturday, November 9 – 10
In observance of the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day, which ended World War I, MHS is holding a symposium, Montana & the Great War: Looking Back 100 Years. The symposium includes tours of MHS’s acclaimed WWI exhibit and the Original Governor’s Mansion, highlights of MHS’s archives collections relating to the war, and speakers Ken Robison, Rich Aarstad, Mary Murphy, and Todd Harwell. For a full schedule visit: Symposium Schedule.
Saturday, November 10, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Sponsored by the Helena Community Credit Union, Second Saturday at MHS features free admission all day long and drawings for door prizes. Note: The Original Governor’s Mansion will be closed this Saturday only so that everyone can attend the Montana & the Great War: Looking Back 100 Years symposium.
Thursday, November 15, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Join us for the official release of the MHS Press’s newest book. Ties, Rails, and Telegraph Wires: Railroads and Communities in Montana and the West explores how railroads shaped and sustained the West well into the middle of the twentieth century. Railways provided essential transportation to communities and businesses. Passenger trains carried people, mail, express, money, newspapers, and milk in steel cans. Town residents knew the telegraphers and other station staff, track maintenance workers, and crews on local trains. People went to the station to meet arriving family members, see campaigning politicians, greet returning sports teams, or just to watch travelers and fellow citizens. From 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., author Dale Martin will sign books while guests enjoy light refreshments. At 7:00 p.m., Martin—a Bozeman historian—will share insights into Montana’s fascinating railroad history.
Thursday, November 22
Happy Thanksgiving!
Friday and Saturday, November 23–24, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Free admission. Visit the Museum’s long-term and temporary exhibits to share Montana’s rich past with your out-of-town family and friends.
• “Black Friday” at the Museum Store. The MHS Museum Store is a great place to shop on the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving! Avoid the crowds and enjoy shopping our hand-picked selection of Montana books, jewelry, and gifts. Open 9-5 both days, the store offers free giftwrapping. Don’t forget that MHS memberships make great presents for the history-lovers in your life and MHS members receive a 15% discount on most store purchases.
Friday and Saturday, November 23–24
Home for the Holidays—enjoy free admission to the former home of Montana’s first families. Bring your out-of-town family and friends for a visit to the Original Governors’ Mansion. Tours begin on the hour at noon, 1:00, 2:00 and 3:00 pm. The Mansion is located at 304 N. Ewing. For more information please call 444-4794.