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
Thursday, December 6, 5:00–8:00 p.m., MHS Open House
Join us for an open house featuring free admission to all museum exhibits, a 10 percent discount in the Museum Store, free gift wrapping, and refreshments provided by Van’s Thriftway.
Saturday, December 8, Second Saturday at MHS—Naughty or Nice?
Sponsored by the Helena Community Credit Union, Second Saturday at MHS features free admission all day long and drawings for door prizes, and:
- Naughty, MHS, 1:30 p.m.
Montana's Dimple Knees Sex Scandal: 1960s Prostitution, Payoffs and Politicians author talk and book signing with John Kuglin. Once a prostitute in the old mining town of Butte, Beverly Snodgrass later became a madam running two of the Mining City’s most popular brothels. She fell deeply in love with a crooked politician, whom she nicknamed “Dimple Knees.” When corrupt cops in uniform came to her businesses, it usually wasn’t to serve and protect but rather to collect payoffs. Butte is sometimes described as a town that “drinks her liquor straight,” but things never were the same after Beverly told her story to a newspaper reporter. In his new book, that reporter, John Kuglin, recounts the scandal that rocked The Richest Hill on Earth and for a time made Dimple Knees the most famous name in Montana.
- Nice, OGM, 12:00–4:00 p.m.
Did you know that the Original Governors Mansion’s antique crank telephone has a direct line to Santa? Come call him with your Christmas wish list and enjoy a free tour of the Mansion on Saturday, December 8 between noon and 4:00 p.m. In addition, there will be ornament making and refreshments. The OGM is located at 304 N Ewing. Happy Holidays from MHS!
Celebrate the holidays with free admission to the Montana Historical Society on select days!
Montana’s Museum at the Montana Historical Society will offer free admission from 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. every Saturday in December, plus Monday, December 24 and Monday, December 31.
After you browse the Museum’s long-term and temporary exhibits, remember to visit the MHS Museum Store. With our hand-picked selection of Montana books, jewelry, and gifts, it is the perfect place to shop and gift wrapping is free. And don’t forget that MHS memberships make great presents for the history lovers in your life. MHS members receive free admission to the museum, a subscription to Montana The Magazine of Western History, two free research requests, and a 15 percent discount on most store purchases.
Saturdays in December, every hour on the hour beginning at 10:00 a.m.
We will be showing historic films from the MHS film archives:
- December 1–Anaconda Copper Mining Lumber Company and Escape to Montana's Glacier Park
- December 8–Montana and the Sky and Montana: A Little Farther North
- December 15–Kootenai and Old West Trail Country: Your Land and Mine
- December 22–Interesting People in MT: Jean Sullivan and Montana and Its Aircraft
- December 29–YNP The Scenic Wonderland of America and Red Sunday: The Story of the Battle of the Little Bighorn
The Original Governor’s Mansion will offer free admission Saturdays* in December, 304 N. Ewing, tours begin on the hour at 12:00, 1:00, 2:00 and 3:00 p.m.
*Note: The OGM will be closed Saturday, December 29.
Learn about the contributions to the war effort made by Montana women and children during World War I. Not only is the Mansion decked out for the holidays, special exhibits of posters, magazine articles, photographs, artifacts, and hands-on activities show visitors how Montanans “did their bit” to support the war effort. Newspapers, letters, and telegrams offer a glimpse of the issues facing Governor Sam Stewart, the First Family, and all Montanans during the Great War. Bring your out-of-town family and friends. For more information please call (406) 444-4794.