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

Saturday, November 9, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Second Saturday at MHS
Sponsored by Intrepid Credit Union, Second Saturday at MHS features free admission all day long and drawings for door prizes. Free admission is also offered at the Original Governor’s Mansion, 304 N. Ewing, where tours begin on the hour at noon, 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00 p.m.

Saturday, November 9, 1:30 p.m.
In observance of Veterans Day, join us for an author talk and book signing, Montanans in the Great War: Open Warfare Over There. In the spring of 1918, World War I continued with fury as American Yanks endeavored to play the key role in stemming the German tide. Montana’s Marines suffered the bloodiest day in their history, as they became “Devil Dogs,” charging through hell on earth at Belleau Wood. Locals in the Wild West Division stormed “over the top” into the Argonne Forest. Nurses, “hello girls,” Navy Yeomanettes and YWCA workers blazed new gender roles while young Seaman Mike Mansfield, future legendary senator, served on convoy duty against lurking German U-boats. Award-winning historian Ken Robison will illuminate the story of young and vibrant Montanans of all ethnicities as they fought for elusive democracy, at home and abroad, in this world war to end all wars.

While you are at the Historical Society for Robison’s talk, be sure to take a final look at the museum’s award-winning exhibit, Times of Trouble, Times of Change: Montana and the Great War, which closes in December.

Thursday, November 21, 6:30 p.m.
A Century of Leadership
In examining the careers of some of Montana’s political leaders over the past century, three noted journalists will attempt to answer the question, ““Why has a sparsely populated state like Montana produced so many national political leaders?” Marc C. Johnson, Chuck Johnson, and Mike Dennison will discuss the contributions of political figures ranging from Burton K. Wheeler and Jeannette Rankin to Mike Mansfield and Marc Racicot. The three political journalists will also debate how the accomplishments of these individuals compare and why it is important to save their stories for future generations. Formerly a top aide to Cecil D. Andrus—Idaho’s longest serving governor—and a public affairs and crisis communications consultant, Marc C. Johnson is the author a recent biography, Political Hell-Raiser: The Life and Times of Senator Burton K. Wheeler of Montana. Chuck Johnson, who covered the 1972 Montana state constitutional convention for the Associated Press, is the former chief of Lee Newspapers’ statehouse bureau and a journalist with more than forty years of experience. Author of the recently published, Inside Montana Politics: A Reporter’s View from the Trenches, Mike Dennison is the chief political reporter for the Montana Television Network with thirty-eight years of experience in television and newspaper reporting.

Thursday, November 28
Happy Thanksgiving! The Montana Historical Society is Closed.

Friday and Saturday, November 29-30, 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 a.m.–5:00 p.m. 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 29-30
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 p.m. The Mansion is located at 304 N. Ewing. For more information please call 444-3695.

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