Montana Historical Society

06/13/2026

"A great day in Butte, Miners' Union Day." This photo, taken by N.A. Forsyth between 1906 and 1911, shows a parade of miners on a crowded city street. [MTHS , ST 001.079]

Miners' Union Day was once one of the biggest celebrations in Butte. Festivities included a parade and other fun events, such as drilling contests, sack races, and baseball games. The annual tradition began as a protest march by striking miners in Butte on June 13, 1878. Other mining towns also celebrated Miners' Union Day, including Granite, Kendall, and Garnet, Montana.

Butte residents still celebrate Miners' Union Day today! Will you join the festivities?

06/12/2026

An unidentified photographer captured this view of flocks of sheep being driven down 3rd Avenue in Havre, Montana, in 1915. The image was sent as a postcard by Rayfield Klingler – likely while visiting his brother Herman, a Havre resident – to his brother Emiel Klingler in Amery, Wisconsin, between 1915 and 1917.

Rayfield Klingler (1899-1986) was born in Winona, Wisconsin; attended automotive school in Kansas City, Kansas; and moved to Montana around 1917. He married Hazel Toldness in 1923, and the couple moved to Shelby, where he owned a hardware store and garage until his retirement in 1966. After retirement, Rayfield moved to Kennewick, Washington, where he later died.

[MTHS , Lot 048 Havvr-sp.08]

06/11/2026

Come see us at the Helena Farmers Market this Saturday!

☀️ June 13
🥕 9 am - 1 pm
📍 Fuller Ave. — One end begins between Women's Park and Hill Park, continuing down the street toward Lawrence St.

We'll have a booth to answer all your questions about the Montana Heritage Center and the upcoming Montana History Fest. See you there, Helena!

06/11/2026

As part of the Montana History Fest celebrations, join the Helena Indian Alliance for a fusion of style and tradition. Following a presentation on Indigenous teas, there will be a fashion showcase of Native designers, with items available for purchase!

Register at https://hia.tools/steeped

We are so excited to announce the designers who will be showcased at our Steeped in Fashion event. This is a part of the Montana Historical Society events!

Please RSVP at http://hia.tools/steeped

Rebekah Jarvey

06/11/2026

Happy Birthday to the political powerhouse, the suffragist legend, the champion of peace, Jeannette Rankin! 🎂

was born on June 11, 1880, to John and Olive Pickering Rankin on the family's Grant Creek Ranch near Missoula. She made history as the first woman to serve in the U.S. Congress after Montana voters elected her to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1916. A lifelong peace activist, she was one of 56 legislators to vote against World War I, and she cast the lone dissenting vote against the United States’ entrance into World War II.

Jeannette spent her life advocating for suffrage, workers' rights, and peace. She remained politically engaged until her death on May 18, 1973, at age 92.

📷1: Formal portrait of Jeannette Rankin. Unidentified photographer, circa 1911. [MHS Legacy Photograph Collection, 944-478]

📷2: Jeannette Rankin with the U.S. Capitol in the background. Unidentified photographer, 1918. [MTHS , Lot 039 B1F12.13]

06/10/2026

The Montana State Historic Preservation Office is pleased to support Preserve Montana’s Trades Corps! Pre-apprentices Katherine, Ani, and Dani will spend the next nine weeks learning preservation trades with Preserve Montana's skilled staff on real historic properties, including:

🍎 Baxendale Schoolhouse, Helena
🔨 Archie Bray Foundation Blacksmith Shop, Helena
🌲 AT&T Cabin, Helena–Lewis & Clark National Forest
🏔️ Wheeler Cabin, Glacier National Park

Photo credit: Preserve Montana

Learn more about these projects at https://preservemontana.org/

06/10/2026

Here's a friendly reminder that flash photography is not allowed in the galleries. ❌📸 But please feel free to take photos or videos without flash! Thank you for helping us protect and preserve these important artifacts.

Shoutout to Elise, Paul, Curtis, and Ginny for their fantastic acting skills!

Come visit the Heritage Center at 225 N. Roberts St. in Helena!
Mon-Wed & Fri: 9 am-5 pm
Thu: 9 am-6:30 pm
Sat-Sun: 10 am-5 pm

06/09/2026

On February 27, 1943, Emil Anderson and 76 other coal miners entered Smith Mine #3 near Bearcreek, Montana. That morning, an explosion in the mine became the worst coal mining disaster in Montana history. Only three workers escaped from the mine. Within its depths, 30 men died instantly from the forceful blast and another 44 soon suffocated, including Emil Anderson.

In the short time Emil had, he left his family this message in chalk on the lid of a dynamite box: "It's 5 mins. pass 11 o'clock / dear Agnes and children / I'm sorry we had to go this [way] / God bless you all / Emil / With lots [of] kisse[s]." This deeply personal letter survives as one of the most quietly devastating objects in our care.

We had the privilege of meeting Emil's granddaughters, Kathy Wilson and Lynda Spaulding, and Kaye Palmer, the daughter of Emil's wife Agnes. Lynda shared what it means to their family: “Our mother and grandmother would be thrilled and proud to know that their father and husband's last words are shared with the public and particularly school children. The family thanks MTHS for their care and presentation of our precious heirloom.”

Meeting Emil's descendants served an important reminder that the stories of the past are connected to real people today. Thank you to Kathy, Lynda, and Kaye for visiting and sharing your story.

06/09/2026

On August 15, 1950, Nick Mariana, general manager of the Selectrics...

06/09/2026

Join Helena CORE for this year's FREE Summer Walk Series!

We are thrilled to announce the lineup for this year’s FREE Summer Walk Series!

Our partner organizations have planned a variety of engaging walks that explore the landscapes, history, wildlife, and stories that shape our community. These experiences offer a chance to deepen your connection to the places we all enjoy while learning how we can work together to steward and protect them for future generations.

Registration for each walk opens two weeks prior to the event date. To view walk locations, learn more about each program, and register, visit: https://www.register-ed.com/programs/montana/241-summer-walk-series

We hope you'll join us for another season of learning, exploration, and connection on our public lands!

Prickly Pear Land TrustHelena Field SchoolMontana Fish, Wildlife & ParksMontana Department of Environmental QualityMontana Discovery FoundationHolter Museum of ArtMontana Historical SocietyLCCo Water Quality Protection DistrictLewis and Clark Conservation DistrictHelena-Lewis and Clark National ForestHelena Parks and RecreationExplorationWorks