Montana is home to numerous historical sites, ranging from National Battlefields and Landmarks to local history museums and historic buildings. Exploring any one of these landmarks will feel like taking a journey back in time to the Old West.
The Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument honors Lt. Col. George Custer and Lakota/Cheyenne peoples’ 1876 conflict over land in southeast Montana, along with featuring Chief Two Moons’ gravesite.
Granite Park Chalet
Granite Park Chalet provides the ideal Montana experience for three longtime friends looking for an idyllic Montana experience. It features classic Alpine-style accommodations, perfect for hiking and other outdoor pursuits in Montana’s wildest national park.
This chalet was constructed between 1914 and 1915 by the Great Northern Railway to provide comfortable back country accommodations in Glacier National Park. Now listed as a National Historic Landmark.
This rustic lodge offers 12 rooms of bunk beds that can be reserved in advance by members of the public. Additionally, an annex can be rented out separately for rent, and pre-ordered meals can also be delivered directly.
Libby’s Heritage Museum
The Heritage Museum showcases the rich history of Lincoln County and Northwest Montana, featuring twelve-sided log building that preserves artifacts from settlement, mining and logging activities in the region as well as exhibits related to vermiculite industry history.
Doug Porter created this building upon the death of Roy D. Porter, an internationally acclaimed Western landscape painter, in 1971. Many volunteers helped in its construction and continue contributing their time today for its ongoing operation.
Pictograph Cave State Park is a beloved attraction and one of the nation’s premier national monuments, offering an opportunity to view prehistoric rock art while uncovering Custer’s fateful expedition in its scenic hills and plains.
Fort Benton Historic District
Fort Benton stands as a proud reminder of Montana’s wide-open prairie and Missouri River country. A National Historic Landmark, Fort Benton was once the leading inland port on the Trail West.
This location became legendary as the hub of fur trade and travel throughout northwestern United States and western Canada. Fifty steamboats docked along its levee each season to transport fur traders, gold seekers, freight and other forms of commerce directly to isolated settlements.
The park features a memorial obelisk dedicated to U.S. soldiers killed during the 1881 Battle of Little Bighorn, as well as museums, reconstructed fort, houses and even a river keelboat for visitors’ pleasure.
The Wilma
Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site offers visitors an unforgettable look into American West culture – its wide open spaces, colorful cowboys and vast herds of cattle are hallmarks of the region. Here they can learn about this significant part of history.
In 2020, The Wilma Theatre’s leadership team underwent a transformation that combined artistic collaboration and new operating structures. This iterative model enabled it to remain fully staffed and functional during pandemic shutdown in 2021.
Lewis and Clark camped at Slaughter River during both of their journeys westward in 1805 and back east in 1806. Today, this site falls within Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument.
Swan River Bridge
Bigfork’s Swan River Bridge stands as an iconic symbol of Bigfork’s heritage of protecting its built environment.
Not only is the bridge historic in significance, it boasts a striking appearance as well. Engineer Paul A. Mutascio designed it in the early 20th century using three asymmetrical arches.
Trace regional history at Pompeys Pillar National Monument, explore the remains of Glacier Park’s first Great Northern Railway hotel at West Glacier or stay in Belton Chalet (another historic Great Northern Railway building), or visit Montana’s largest buffalo jump at First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park.
Belton Chalet
Built by Louis Hill’s Great Northern Railroad in 1910, this chalet complex serves guests visiting Glacier National Park. Remarkably preserved to retain its original grandeur, this structure stands as a prime example of Swiss-themed architecture in America’s Alps.
The Belton Chalet features cabins, a hotel and dining hall buildings which have all been beautifully decorated to maintain their historical integrity. Furthermore, there are 25 rooms and three large cottages which can be booked year-round at this property.
Complex is designated a National Historic Landmark, and new owners have maintained it well. Staff have reported seeing a ghost wearing a dark necktie and derby hat wandering the hallways of hotel.
