Northwest Montana History Museum

05/25/2026

The museum organized a "reading team" to judge the nonfiction entries. We had a great time getting all judgy the other night in making the selections, to be announced at the event at Bias Brewing

Join us for the “Talking About My Generation” writing contest award ceremony this Thursday May 28th, at the Bias Brewing Loft!

Thursday, May 28
6:00-8:30pm
Bias Brewing Loft
412 Main Street, Kalispell

If you missed the chance to submit your writing, there are still opportunities to share your talent. A live haiku contest will be held before three local celebrity judges:
Tony Edmundson- Flathead County Public Services Librarian
Kim Krueger- Artistic Director of Whitefish Theater Company
Halliday Quist- Local Singer/Songwriter

From AoF President:
The evening will be fun for writers and non-writers alike. It is a shining example of how much we can do when we come together. With three different teams of judges from the valley stepping in to read each category, there is already much to celebrate. Our sponsors and volunteers have provided a platform for artists’ voices and a room full of community members to laugh with.

There will be word games for any who want to participate and a showcase of our winners upon announcement. If you win an award but do not wish to read your piece out loud, no problem. We have ‘pinch hitters’ who can read for you.

There will also be beer and pizza. The suggested donation for this event is $20, the proceeds of which go toward housing our conference speakers this fall!

Authors of the Flathead would like to extend a warm thank you to:
Margery Fox- Planning Committee
Bias Brewing- Donating the Event Space and Food
Park Side Federal Credit Union- Gold Sponsor
Tony Edmundson- Planning and Poetry Team
Flathead County Libraries- Reading Team
Northwest Montana History Museum- Reading Team
Bookworks of Whitefish- Reading Team

05/25/2026

Our fourth walking-tour season kicked off this week!

04/16/2026

Now we all can learn more about the groundbreaking electronic composer Ruth Anderson, born right here in Kalispell. Thank you to journalist Ruth Eddy for the shoutout and to our wonderful museum researchers who helped make this fascinating podcast happen (photo by Manny Albam)
https://www.theobitproject.org/episode-2-for-ruth/

04/06/2026

As part of the Celebrate 406 event organized by the chamber, we are offering 20 percent discount today thru Wednesday, April 8, for all purchases in our bookstore. Along with fun stuff for kids and adults alike, we carry books for all tastes, including many by local authors, along with maps and much more. Go big — shop small!

Other participants in the promotion include:
Bias Brewing
Brannigan's Pub
Coins & Carats
The Conrad Mansion
Flathead Running Company
Freestone Restaurant
Glacier Art Museum
Insty-Prints
L&M Fine Jewelry
Mad Can Coffee in the K M Building
Mary's Mountain Cookies
Norm's Soda Fountain
Princess & Buck
Rose Mountain Floral
Sharpe Art & Photography in Sassafras
The MOD Hive
The Source Day Spa and Sauna Studio
The Toggery
Western Outdoor Store
Wheat Montana
and more!

03/18/2026

Hooray for the Montana Constitution! See below for a live-streamed event Friday, March 20. We're so lucky to have a model document that transcribes Montana values. Read more here: https://dailyinterlake.com/news/2025/apr/20/montana-values-transcribed/

The Montana Constitution Day Event will be livestreamed via Zoom Webinar hosted by the Montana Historical Society.
Join online here:
https://mt-gov.zoom.us/j/89140933494

The Honorable Anthony Johnstone, judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, will present “The Montana Constitution in Time” with an introduction from Montana Supreme Court Chief Justice Cory Swanson. Remarks will begin 10:30 a.m. with a Q&A starting around 11:45 a.m.

This event is hosted by the Friends of the Montana Constitution and cosponsored by the Montana Historical Society.

What's your favorite part of the Montana Constitution?

03/12/2026

Smokey sez: Come on in to the museum for fun, adventure, and the best infotainment around (history!). We're open til 5 today. I mean, it's not like you're all out making snow angels ;)

03/10/2026

Montana Madness has begun. Vote for Northwest Montana sites!

1. Three Forks of the Missouri, Gallatin CountyAlong major intertribal trade and travel routes, the headwaters of the Missouri was a confluence of people as well as rivers, where generations of Native peoples and later, early explorers and trappers, camped. On July 27, 1805, Meriwether Lewis climbed...

03/03/2026

The museum closes 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 4, to properly fete our volunteer corps. Apologies in advance. Thank you to all our amazing volunteers!

03/01/2026

Be more alert about ALERT starting in an hour as we hear from Marty Boehm about the roots of the groundbreaking program, in the final installment in the 24th annual John White Series! Plus, we got cookies.

02/27/2026

Some spaces remain for Marty Boehm's presentation on early ALERT on March 1, which closes out another successful John White Series. Pictured: a map of the area served by ALERT, arguably the most rugged and remote terrain of the lower 48. Come in and reserve your spot for Sunday or book online thru link at nwmthistory.org