Ravalli County Museum facts for kids
The Ravalli County Museum is a cool place in Hamilton, Montana. It's run by the Bitter Root Valley Historical Society. Their main job is to find, keep safe, and share the history and culture of the Bitter Root Valley. This includes stories about the people who have lived in Ravalli County, Montana, in the United States.
The Museum is open all year. It focuses on three main things: local history, nature, and art. It's a great spot to learn about the past and see amazing things!
Museum Exhibits
The Ravalli County Museum has 9 different exhibit areas. Five of these areas have exhibits that are always there for you to see.
The Discovery: Lewis & Clark Meet the Salish
This exhibit tells an important story. It shows when Meriwether Lewis and William Clark met the Salish tribe in the Bitterroot Valley. This happened in 1805, just before they crossed the big Continental Divide. You can see cool murals and copies of pages from their journals. There are also real Native American artifacts. Plus, you'll find models of local plants and animals. You can even see replicas of the tools Lewis and Clark used on their famous Lewis and Clark Expedition.
National Senior Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame
Are you a fan of cowboys and rodeos? This exhibit is for you! It has many items from famous rodeo stars. These are people who have been put into the Hall of Fame. The displays also explain the history of rodeo. You can learn all about the exciting life of an American cowboy.
A Walk Through the Bitter Root
Step back in time with this exhibit! It has two rooms with beautiful murals. These paintings show what places like Darby, Conner, Sula, and Hamilton looked like in the 1900s. A local artist named Suzette DelRae painted them. You'll also see old farm tools and maps. There are even small scenes (dioramas) showing how pioneers lived when they first settled in the valley.
Bertie Lord, Pioneer Photographer
Meet Bertie Lord, a person who loved photography! This exhibit shows items from Bertie Lord's own collection. Her family gave these items to the Museum. You can see old photo equipment and pictures from the late 1800s to early 1900s. This includes special 3D pictures called stereo views. It really shows how much Bertie Lord loved taking photos.
Natural History Exhibit
This exhibit is all about the amazing wildlife of Western Montana. You can see a white wolf, a hawk, an eagle, and an elk. There's also a large collection of fly fishing ties from the 1920s. You can even look at old photos of fishing parties from the late 1800s.
Trapper and Miner Exhibit
Imagine living in the Bitterroot Mountains long ago! This exhibit shows what life was like for a miner or trapper in the 1800s and 1900s. It's set up to look like the inside of a one-room log cabin. You'll see a stove, a bed, animal furs, and tools for mining and trapping. There's even a special chair made by Father Antonio Ravalli himself!
Rotating Exhibits
The Museum also has three smaller galleries and a main gallery that change their exhibits often. The "Old Courtroom" is a big space that shows large exhibits. These exhibits are usually about things that are important to the community. The Museum also brings in traveling exhibits. They also host talks about interesting local topics throughout the year.
Museum History
The Bitter Root Valley Historical Society started a small history museum in 1955. It was first located in the old train depot in Hamilton, Montana. When the depot was torn down, the museum's items were stored in barns and basements of local people.
In 1974, local leaders planned to tear down the Ravalli County Courthouse. This building was designed in 1900 by an architect named A.J. Gibson. But the Bitter Root Valley Historical Society worked hard to save it! They convinced everyone to use the old courthouse as the new home for the Museum. The Ravalli County Museum opened its doors soon after. Now, it holds many historical collections. These include items from the American Indian heritage and early settlers of the Bitterroot Valley. The building even has an old Cold War-era bomb shelter. It has been turned into a work area for the museum staff.
Museum Collections
Most of the items in the Museum's collection were given as gifts over many years. Many families who were pioneers in the area donated things. For example, Henry Grant collected and gave many different objects. Some other items you see are on loan from various people.
The permanent collection has American Indian artifacts. These are from local tribes like the Salish, Crow, Nez Perce, and Kootenai Native Americans. There are also old farm tools and scientific instruments. You can see collections about homesteading in the valley. Military uniforms and accessories are also on display. These date from the American Civil War time up to Operation Desert Storm. A big part of the collection includes items from the Victorian Era. These are household items, old clothes, portraits, paintings, and many other interesting articles.
Museum Archives
The Ravalli County Museum also keeps a collection of old documents and records. This is called an archive. It's very helpful for people who are studying history. You can find files of local documents. There's also a collection of old newspapers, some from as far back as the 1880s! They have a card catalog that lists obituaries and other topics. This information is also in a computer database that you can search. You can also find original documents, a survey of Hamilton's buildings, and a collection of local books.
Annual Events
The Museum hosts several fun events each year!
Annual McIntosh Apple Day Festival
This festival started in 1979. It happens every October. It celebrates the "Apple Boom" that happened from 1907 to 1911. Museum staff and volunteers make and sell delicious apple pies, apple butter, and other apple treats. Up to 175 vendors from the Bitterroot Valley and other parts of Montana and Idaho set up booths around the Museum.
Bitter Root Day
Bitter Root Day is a festival that celebrates Salish culture. It happens every June. This event helps protect the Montana State flower, which is called the bitterroot. You can buy plants and seeds of the flower. They even give you instructions on how to plant them!
Art & Treasures Annual Appraisal Event
At this event, local people bring in their own old items and collectibles. A local expert looks at them and tells them how much they might be worth. All the money raised from this event helps support the Museum and its important work.
Annual Afternoon of Cowboy Music & Poetry
In June, you can enjoy an afternoon of cowboy music and poetry. This event takes place on the Museum's lawn. Guests sit on hay bales and listen to cowboy poets and musicians. They share stories about the cowboy lifestyle through their poems and songs.
'Photograph Montana' Contest
Since 1992, the Museum has held an annual 'Photograph Montana' contest. This contest helps raise money to protect the Ernst Peterson photograph collection. Professional and amateur photographers are invited to send in their photos of Montana. There's a small fee for each photo. The photos are judged, and winners receive ribbons and prizes at a special ceremony. All the photos are shown in an exhibit in the Old Courtroom Gallery on the third floor of the Museum.
