{"id":811,"featured":0,"modified":"2026-04-17 19:40:09","latitude":46.58623060000000037916834116913378238677978515625,"longitude":-112.01599709999999276988091878592967987060546875,"title":"Montana Veterans and Pioneers Memorial Building","subtitle":"","fullsize":"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/c6cfeee98a0485463a485b9d92dfc43a.jpg","address":"225 North Roberts Street, Helena, Montana","all_locations":[],"zoom":17,"creator":["Montana National Register Sign Program"],"description":"The desire to memorialize the contributions of Montana pioneers and veterans and the need for a state museum converged in 1941. That year, veterans groups, the Sons and Daughters of Montana Pioneers, and the Montana Pioneers joined together to promote construction of this building. The Sons and Daughters of Montana Pioneers purchased the site, and veterans groups contributed $48,000 toward the project. Together they lobbied the legislature to earmark money for a combined memorial, museum, and historical library. World War II delayed the project, but after the war, Governor John Bonner pushed through an additional $350,000 appropriation for the building. The groups held an architectural competition, and several Montana firms submitted plans. When the veterans and pioneers voted on the designs by secret ballot at separate conventions, the design of Great Falls architect Angus McIver emerged as the clear winner. The plan featured the sleek lines and balanced asymmetry that characterizes modern architecture at its best. Actually two separate buildings, the striking bronze-trimmed entrance creates a seamless connection between the one-story, windowless museum decorated on the exterior with tile, and the three-story building to the north, whose horizontal ribbons of windows provide the primary ornamentation. After several delays, the building was finally completed in 1953 at a cost of $638,000. The Montana Historical Society soon filled the galleries with exhibits, including a permanent display of Charles M. Russell paintings and sculpture. The state funded building additions in 1970 and 1986 to accommodate the Society’s growing staff and collections.","sponsor":null,"accessinfo":"Public","lede":"","website":"","related_resources":["Read about the Montana Veterans and Pioneers Memorial Building","See photos of the Montana Veterans and Pioneers Memorial Building"],"factoids":[],"files":{"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/c6cfeee98a0485463a485b9d92dfc43a.jpg":{"id":3643,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Montana Veterans and Pioneers Memorial Building","description":"View of main facade shortly after construction completion | Montana Historical Society Research Center Photograph Archives, Helena, MT | ca. 1952 | Montana Historical Society","thumbnail":"https://historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/c6cfeee98a0485463a485b9d92dfc43a.jpg"},"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/a44e8cd11562c1029564f9a3b2b04f0a.jpg":{"id":3644,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Montana Veterans and Pioneers Memorial Building","description":"View of entire front facade shortly after construction | Montana Historical Society Research Center Photograph Archives, Helena, MT
\r\n | ca. 1952 | Montana Historical Society","thumbnail":"https://historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/a44e8cd11562c1029564f9a3b2b04f0a.jpg"},"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/590594249ec634ee460d515ad1c8f5a0.jpg":{"id":3641,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Montana Veterans and Pioneers Memorial Building","description":"Montana Veterans and Pioneers Memorial Building under construction. Montana Veterans and Pioneers pose for a photograph on dedication day. | Montana Historical Society Research Center Photograph Archives, Helena, MT | ca. 1952 | Montana Historical Society","thumbnail":"https://historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/590594249ec634ee460d515ad1c8f5a0.jpg"},"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/190e93298f874c9df38ca0baf9a214c1.jpg":{"id":3642,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Montana Veterans and Pioneers Memorial Building","description":"Montana Veterans and Pioneers Memorial Building, historic view of main gallery | Montana Historical Society Research Center Photograph Archives, Helena, MT | ca. 1952 | Montana Historical Society","thumbnail":"https://historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/190e93298f874c9df38ca0baf9a214c1.jpg"},"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/37af1683e56de4227b878b47a7d0a9a4.jpg":{"id":3637,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Montana Veterans and Pioneers Memorial Building","description":"View of facade in winter | Montana Historical Society | ca. 2012","thumbnail":"https://historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/37af1683e56de4227b878b47a7d0a9a4.jpg"},"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/f9f35bb8d1f7b00cf2dee92eda7359a2.jpg":{"id":3635,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Montana Veterans and Pioneers Memorial Building","description":"View of facade and hurd bull sculpture in October | Montana Historical Society | October 2008","thumbnail":"https://historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/f9f35bb8d1f7b00cf2dee92eda7359a2.jpg"},"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/12710dfd7468c1926df294eadbe8fa2f.jpg":{"id":3636,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Montana Veterans and Pioneers Memorial Building","description":"View looking north at building facade in October | Montana Historical Society | October 2013","thumbnail":"https://historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/12710dfd7468c1926df294eadbe8fa2f.jpg"},"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/6cb51976ac461a7d3b45d7ff40001e2f.jpg":{"id":1008,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Montana Veterans and Pioneers Memorial Building","description":"Montana Veterans and Pioneers Memorial Building, facing southwest on 6th Avenue with Bob Scriver's "Symbol of the Pros" in the forefront, back view of the building. | MontanaPictures.net | Apr. 2011 | MontanaPictures.net","thumbnail":"https://historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/6cb51976ac461a7d3b45d7ff40001e2f.jpg"},"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/9e7bd99883197b9a63e01b926fc1c56c.jpg":{"id":1593,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Montana Veterans and Pioneers Memorial Building","description":"Montana Veterans and Pioneers Memorial Building. Rear view of the building, facing west toward Mount Helena and the Montana State Capitol building with North Sanders Street to the photographer's back and 6th Avenue to the photographer's right (north). | Montana State Historic Preservation Office | Nov. 2003 | Montana Historical Society","thumbnail":"https://historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/9e7bd99883197b9a63e01b926fc1c56c.jpg"},"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/5814e759447dc6e61f482e490bbe2ce6.jpg":{"id":1590,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Montana Veterans and Pioneers Memorial Building","description":"Montana Veterans and Pioneers Memorial Building. Front view of the building, facing east to northeast from the front lawn of the Montana State Capitol Building across the street on North Roberts Street. | Montana State Historic Preservation Office | Nov. 2003 | Montana Historical Society","thumbnail":"https://historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/5814e759447dc6e61f482e490bbe2ce6.jpg"},"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/3cdc8fc901f74dc68e149e38da47b129.jpg":{"id":3638,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Montana Veterans and Pioneers Memorial Building","description":"Interior view of lobby, looking west toward main entrance doors | Montana Historical Society | 2015","thumbnail":"https://historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/3cdc8fc901f74dc68e149e38da47b129.jpg"},"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/0212bb46e379901ccf8cbeb9c831f7e6.jpg":{"id":3639,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Montana Veterans and Pioneers Memorial Building","description":"Interior view of Charles M. Russell Gallery, looking northeast | Montana Historical Society | Feb 2013","thumbnail":"https://historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/0212bb46e379901ccf8cbeb9c831f7e6.jpg"}}}