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, August 8, 2:00
Chinese in Montana: Our Forgotten Pioneers
Join the Montana Historical Society’s Facebook reading club, Revisiting Montana 1889: A Book Group, on a field trip to Butte! The outing is free (except for dinner) and open to the public as well as book group members!
Where: Meet at Butte-Silver Bow Public Archives, 17 W Quartz St, Butte
What: A presentation by Helena historian Ellen Baumler; a tour of Mai Wah Museum and more as time allows; dinner at Pekin Noodle Parlor at 5:00 p.m. (everyone pays for their own meal)
How: Carpool: from Helena – MHS parking lot at 12:30 p.m.; from Missoula – front steps of UM’s Brantly Hall at 11:30 a.m. (we will determine how many cars we need to take once we all meet).
Questions? Contact Barbara at (406)444-9526 or bapepperrotness@mt.gov.
Saturday, August 10, 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, August 10, 1:30 p.m.
Treasure State Tycoon: Nelson Story and the Making of Montana author talk and book signing with John C. Russell. Newly released by the Montana Historical Society Press, Treasure State Tycoon recounts the remarkable life of Nelson G. Story, a colorful and contradictory figure whose influence on Montana’s development was profound and rivaled by few others in its history. After striking it rich in the goldfields of Alder Gulch, Story drove the first herd of cattle from Texas to the territory that would ultimately become the Treasure State. He went on to build a commercial empire of diverse interests, the success of which relied both on his determination and ingenuity as well as his penchant for fraud and deceit. Story’s reputation for ruthlessness in both his personal and professional conduct was well earned, but he was also a generous philanthropist, supporting local churches, schools, and other civic improvements. He tirelessly promoted the upstart community of Bozeman, playing a central role in the establishment of the Montana State College of Mechanical and Agricultural Arts— today’s Montana State University. Like other political and business leaders of his time, Nelson Story left behind a legacy rife with paradoxes that gave shape to life in Montana and continues to resonate in the contested mythology of the American West. Author John C. Russell was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and moved to Bozeman to attend Montana State University. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in history in 1978. He has worked as a broadcast reporter in television and radio, and most recently as director of the Gallatin (County) Historical Society. Russell is also the author of several historical articles, one published in Wild West Magazine.
All summer long!
Summer tours are in full swing at the Original Governor’s Mansion. It’s the perfect place to bring your out-of-town family and friends. Hours are:
May 15–September 15
Tuesday–Saturday: Tours at 12, 1, 2, and 3
Closed Sundays, Mondays and holidays.
Visit OGM Tours for more information.
Sign up to learn about upcoming programs.