Fun at Fort Missoula

We are proud of our Montana heritage, and love sharing the history of our area with guests of our Missoula guest lodge.
If you are interested in the history of Montana in general and the Missoula area in particular, stop by the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula. Established in 1975 to ensure that the history of the area would be preserved, the museum houses an interesting collection of historic artifacts. The story of Fort Missoula is fascinating to uncover.
Fort Missoula was originally built in 1877 to protect white settlers who feared attacks from the Native Americans who lived in the area. It gained some fame when it became a base for the famous Buffalo Soldiers in 1888. Part of the 25th Infantry, this regiment of black soldiers and white officers (one of four such regiments created after the Civil War) took to their bicycles towards the end of the century to test whether or not bikes could be useful to the military.
The fort was used for military training during the first World War, was enlisted into the Civilian Conservation Corps as its Northwest Regional Headquarters in 1933, and served as a detention area for non-military Italian men during the second World War. You couldn’t ask for a better slice of American history than you will find at Fort Missoula.
For the holidays, the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula brings out dolls – lots and lots of dolls. “All Dolled Up For the Holidays” runs November 22 through January 3, 2010, and is sure to be a treat.
Treat yourself with a stay at our Missoula bed and breakfast over this holiday season. We will feed you a delicious meal before you set out to explore the area, and welcome you back with a cup of warm tea and a cozy chair overlooking the Bitterroot Valley.