Tour the State's Most Notable Historic Treasures
The Museum at the Montana Heritage Center
The Montana Historical Society is proud to operate the Montana Heritage Center. Visit to learn more about history, art, and culture and explore our new Homeland, Charlie Russell, and Changing Galleries.
Montana Heritage Center Hours:
- Monday - Wednesday & Friday: 9:00 am-5:00 pm
- Thursday: 9:00 am-6:30 pm
- Saturday: 10:00 am-5:00 pm
- Sunday: 12:00 pm-5:00 pm
Guided Tours Starting February 1 through June 8:
Thursdays:
- 5:00 p.m.- 6:15 pm Tour Guide's Choice!
- Join our MTHS tour guides as they share their favorite aspects of the Montana Heritage Center. This public tour will vary each week but will give participants an opportunity to explore the galleries and artifacts here. Meet at the tour desk in the Central Commons for this free, drop-in tour. No reservations are required.
Saturdays:
- 11:00 a.m.- 12:15 pm Homeland Gallery Tour.
- Explore the 70,000 square foot Homeland Gallery with one of the MTHS guides highlighting the stories and objects that connect people and place. Meet at the tour desk in the Central Commons for this free, drop-in tour. No reservations are required.
- 1:00 p.m.- 2:15 pm Charlie M. Russell Gallery Tour.
- Join our MTHS guides for an hour in the Charlie M. Russell Gallery to see Montana's cowboy artist in a new light. Meet at the tour desk in the Central Commons for this free, drop-in tour. No reservations are required.
Sundays:
- 1:00 p.m.- 2:15 pm Charlie M. Russell Gallery Tour.
- Join our MTHS guides for an hour in the Charlie M. Russell Gallery to see Montana's cowboy artist in a new light. Meet at the tour desk in the Central Commons for this free, drop-in tour. No reservations are required.
- 3:00 p.m.- 4:15 pm Homeland Gallery Tour.
- Explore the 70,000 square foot Homeland Gallery with one of the MTHS guides highlighting the stories and objects that connect people and place. Meet at the tour desk in the Central Commons for this free, drop-in tour. No reservations are required.
Starting Monday, June 8th, MTHS will provide daily tours of the Heritage Center
To register for your tours visit https://MTHS-mt.libcal.com/calendar/mthstourcalendarthis link
General Tour of the Montana Heritage Center
Monday- Friday 9:30 am & 3 pm
This one-hour tour is a perfect introduction to the three galleries and public spaces of the Montana Heritage Center. Highlighting historical themes and the physical design of the building, this tour offers valuable background information that will deepen your own exploration of the exhibits in the Montana Heritage Center.
Duration: 1 hour
Limit to 22 participants
Montana Homeland Gallery
Monday- Saturday 11 am
Sundays- 3 pm
Explore the 70,000 square foot Homeland Gallery with one of the MTHS guides highlighting the stories and objects that connect people and place. Tour guides engage participants imagination with stories and hands-on manipulatives to illuminate Montana History from the Ice Age to modern times.
Duration: 1 hour
Limit to 22 participants
Charlie M. Russell Gallery Tour
Monday- Saturday 1 pm
Join MTHS guides for an engaging exploration of the Charlie M. Russell Gallery. Reconnect with the life and times of Montana's cowboy artist, or experience his masterpieces for the first time.
Duration: 1 hour
Limit to 22 participants
Changing Gallery
The Most Difficult Journey: The Poindexter Collection of Modern Art
Monday- Friday 2:00 pm
This thirty-minute gallery tour frames The Poindexter Collection of Modern Art in a historical context and invites guests to take their “difficult journey” to see this world class exhibit of abstract art in a new light.
Duration: 30 minutes
Limit: 20 participants
The Montana State Capitol
The Capitol building is open Monday – Friday, 7:00 am - 6:00 pm and weekends, 9:30 am - 3:00 pm. The Capitol building is closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day and may be closed to the general public occasionally on weekends for scheduled routine maintenance.
The Capitol is open through the week and weekend for self-guided tours during business hours (above).
- Self-guiding tour booklets and a scavenger hunt for kids led by Lewis and Clark’s intrepid Newfoundland, Seaman, are available at the first-floor information desk.
- You can also download the interactive student guide to the Montana State Capitol, "Explore Your Statehouse," take this forty-three minute video tour, or this virtual tour of the Capitol.
- Click this link for more Montana State Capitol information.
Free Capitol Tours for the Public Starting February 1st through May 31st:
The Montana Historical Society continues with our popular Capitol tours that highlight the art, architecture, and civics in the "People's House." This one hour tour moves through the public spaces of the Montana Statehouse, including a stop in the gallery of the House of Representatives where participants can view the iconic Charlie Russell painting, “Lewis and Clark Meet the Salish at Ross’s Hole.”
- Monday- Friday: Tour at 3:00 pm
- Saturday: Tours available upon request (2 weeks ahead of time)
Starting Monday, June 8, MTHS will provide daily tours of the Montana Capitol
Monday- Friday 9:30 am & 3 pm
Saturdays- 9:30 am
To register for your tour, visit here:
Limit: 25 participants
To register for the general public tours visit https://MTHS-mt.libcal.com/calendar/mthstourcalendarthis link
If you would like to schedule a tour for your non-commercial tour group outside of the hours listed above, please use this link. https://MTHS-mt.libwizard.com/id/9d0af1931fa6ce08d22d56740b77c3aa
Commercial Tours- For groups aligned with tour FOR PROFIT tour companies.
- Tours are available for groups but must be scheduled in advance with Darby.Bramble2@mt.gov
- Tour capacity is 30 people.
- Tour cost is $100/per tour for commercial tours
The Original Governor's Mansion
The Original Governor's Mansion is located at 304 North Ewing, Helena. Visit this ornate, Queen Anne-Style mansion that served as home to Montana's First Families from 1913-1959. Take yourself on a virtual tour of the Original Governor's Mansion or view a twenty-minute video tour.
Tour capacity is 20 people. There is no admission fee, and admission is on a first-come, first-served basis - no advanced reservations required.
The Original Governor’s Mansion is closed for construction until July. We apologize for any inconvenience during the renovation of the porch.
If you have questions, or concerns reach out to Darby.Bramble2@mt.gov or 406-444-2412
Commercial Tours
- Tours are available for groups but must be scheduled in advance with Darby.Bramble2@mt.gov
- Maximum 24 people.
- Tour cost is $100/ per tour for commercial tours
Tours for School Groups and/or Youth
MTHS Spring Fieldtrips are booked for the season!
To schedule a field trip at the Montana Heritage Center, Montana State Capitol, or the Original Governor's Mansion for Fall 2026 and 2027, please complete this form.
Original Governor’s Mansion
Join our engaging tour guides on a one-hour tour to explore the Queen Anne-Style Mansion that served as home to Montana’s First Families.
The Montana Capitol
Students learn about architecture, art, civics, and Montana history during this one-hour tour of “The People’s House.”
Many teachers add a visit to the Secretary of State (30 minutes), or the Montana Supreme Court (45 minutes) to the Capitol experience. You may schedule these extra opportunities directly with these offices.
- Secretary of State: (406) 444-2034
- Supreme Court: (406) 444-5570
The Museum at the Montana Heritage Center (Starting January 2026) Explore hands-on materials and exhibits from the Homeland Gallery and Charlie Russell Gallery to connect students to Montana history and culture. A student-centered guided tour of each gallery lasts 45 minutes.
The Montana Historical Society will accept field trip requests on a first come, first-served basis. Please schedule your field trip at least TWO WEEKS prior to the date of your arrival.
Montana Historical Society History and Civics Travel Grant Information
Through a generous grant from Montana Blue Cross Blue Shield, the Montana Historical Society (MTHS) kicked-off the first round of the History and Travel Grant to fund forty-six applicants across twenty-two counties this fall.
These funds offset travel costs to Helena for public, private, and homeschool collective schools from across the state.
Funding is awarded to schools who will travel more than fifty miles (one way) to Helena and is based on a formula that includes:
- distance to Helena
- number of students
- type of transportation
The application period for 2026-2027 opens September 6, 2026.
Award letters, invoices and tax information will be send to teachers and business office staff by Friday, January 16th. Grant awards will be sent as checks to your school business office by Friday, February 13th.
If you don’t require grant funding to travel, and you would like to reserve a date to visit the Montana Capitol, Original Governor’s Mansion, Homeland and Charlie Russell Gallery, our staff can book your field trip today.
To apply for the grant, or to schedule fieldtrips, please complete this form.
If you have any questions or comments regarding fieldtrips, or grant funding please call Darby Bramble at 406-444-2412 or email Darby.Bramble2@mt.gov
