Historical Museum at Fort Missoula

Purpose: Sustaining Cultural Heritage The Historical Museum at Fort Missoula is Missoula County's only historical museum, serving more than 40,000 visitors a year from a county population of 95,800 and many tourists (35 percent of visitors). The museum was founded in the early 1960s to preserve the cultural heritage of western Montana. Its mission is to collect, preserve, and interpret the history of the area. Severe budget limitations have prevented the museum from updating its Main Gallery in the past 15 years. A recent county mill levy now provides funds for building operations and staffing, but the museum still must raise funds for exhibits and educational programs. The museum needs to completely redesign its Main Gallery to provide a transformational experience for visitors through engaging interactive displays and orientation and educational outreach programs. The museum wants to present new ways of thinking about familiar ideas and events; expand the information and artifacts featured; and create a compelling, thought-provoking experience. It will use this grant to hire a designer and a museum consultant to create, evaluate, and install a new permanent exhibit on the history of Missoula and western Montana.