The well-preserved buildings and pristine agricultural landscape surrounding the Henneberry Homestead epitomize Beaverhead Valley ranch life in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Before the discovery of gold on nearby Grasshopper Creek in 1862,…

William and Elizabeth (Lizzie) McMaster and their son James arrived in Helena, Montana Territory, in 1886. William built a blacksmith shop close to the train depot. Then, in 1893, they filed for a 160-acre homestead located twelve miles east of…

Malta, first known as “Siding 54,” took its place along the Hi-Line in 1887 as the Great Northern Railway opened new opportunities. The railroad heavily promoted the area, and by 1910, Malta was the county seat. Longtime residents Lee Edwards and…

The need to serve World War I’s returning Veterans led the Veterans Bureau to expand its services in the 1920s and 1930s. However, by the early 1930s, Fort Harrison’s hospital (Building #2) was overcrowded and antiquated. In 1932, the Veterans…

Historic military forts across the United States differ greatly, but most share a common landscape feature—the parade ground—where soldiers practiced military drills, held ceremonies, and gathered for recreation. Fort Harrison’s parade ground has…

South Butte’s industrial character developed quickly after 1881 as commercial foundries, warehouses, and mills located close to the railroad tracks. Chinese immigrant Sam Sing ran a laundry business on this corner from 1899 to 1906. In 1910, the…

Michael and Ellen Curry, natives of Ireland, built this cross-gable roof Colonial Revival style cottage in 1898. The Currys moved to Great Falls from Fort Benton in 1891. Initially, they rented this home to professional tenants, while living in a…

The Hall Bungalow, built in 1916-17, is a distinctive, unpretentious but elegant log residence that reflects its early history as a private summer residence. Chicago Board of Trade members James M. Hall and John H. Scoville formed the Hall Ranch…

Missoula contractor Edwin S. Newton built this brick carpentry shop and office behind his home circa 1910. The building’s large size and patterned masonry along the stepped parapet reflect Newton’s prominence as one of Missoula’s leading…

Norwegian-American Lutherans settling in the Flathead Valley in the late 1880s organized the area’s first Lutheran congregation in 1895. Organizational meetings were held in Christian and Mathilde Presbye’s home, and the first church was constructed…