Hands on History Footlockers

The Society's Footlocker program offers thematic "traveling trunks" focused on a wide variety of topics. Each footlocker is filled with reproductions of clothing, tools, everyday objects, maps, photographs, documents. Each footlocker user guide includes historical narratives for educators and students, lesson plans (many of which do not require material from the footlockers), Amazing Montanan biographies, and information on standards alignment.

Available Titles: Find a list of available Montana Historical Society-created footlockers and view their User Guides here.

Availability and Cost: Footlockers are available to Montana educators for two weeks at a time. Schools pay a $25 rental fee, while the Montana Historical Society covers the cost of shipping to the next venue. In an effort to provide equitable access, reservations are limited to four per year per teacher.

How to Order:

First, check this chart to see available dates. Then complete this Footlocker Request Form. Questions? Email coordinator Katie White or call 406-444-9553.

The following footlockers also include links to PowerPoints that provide access to documents and photographs relating to the footlocker topics:

• Coming to Montana: Immigrants from Around the World - Showcases the cultures, countries, traditions, and foodways of Montana's immigrants through reproduction clothing, toys, and activities.
• Discover Lewis and Clark - Traces the Corps' journey through Montana and their encounters with American Indians. Includes grizzly bear hide, trade goods, a sextant, books, and more!
• Montana's First Peoples: Essential Understandings - Explores the Seven Essential Understandings Regarding Montana Indians. Includes pre-contact and contact-era trade items, a parfleche, drum, elk tooth dress, horse model, ration coupon bag, boarding school outfits, beaver pelt and bison hide, maps, illustrations, tribal flags, and more.
• Montana State Symbols - Provides students the opportunity to explore hands-on educational activities to gain a greater appreciation of our state's symbols and their meanings.
• Through a Child's Eyes: The Stewart Family in Turbulent Times, 1913-1921 - Investigates life and politics, 1913-1921, as well as the history and architecture of a magnificent building.

Join MHS senior manuscript archivist and Montana historian Rich Aarstad on six- to seven-minute tours of some of the objects in "From Caps for Traps: The Montana Fur Trade" and Gold, Silver, and Coal, Oh My.

Did you know? The Office of Public Instruction Indian Education Division has class sets of the books available for borrowing for use in your classroom for up to three months. These go with lesson plans on the OPI Indian Education Web site. Learn more here.