A Guide to Historic Missoula* (ebook)

Montana Mainstreets, Volume 6 by Allan James Mathews Winner of a Certificate of Commendation from the American Association for State and Local History

Situated west of the Continental Divide, the town of Missoula got its start in 1860 as a trading post called Hellgate, supplying miners with produce, flour, other trade goods, and lumber. Missoula's designation as county seat in 1866 and the arrival of the Northern Pacific in 1883 and the Milwaukee Road in 1909 cemented the town's role as a center of commerce. Its economy diversified further when Missoula became home to the state university—now called University of Montana—in 1895 as well as the U.S. Forest Service's regional district headquarters for the Rocky Mountains in 1908. With a flourishing downtown district and well-preserved historic homes, Missoula's streetscapes today reflect the town's abundant history, thanks, in part, to a successful historic preservation program that has protected much of the community's rich architectural legacy. Explore Missoula's buildings, parks, and historic sites through this guide.