For more than 10,000 years, this site was situated in the aboriginal territories of the Séliš-Ql̓ispé people. For 100 years, the ranch, located at the northwest corner of a 470-acre property, was continuously cultivated by the Moon and Randolph families. In the 1990s the property began to draw the attention of curious and concerned citizens. In 1996, the City of Missoula purchased the Randolph pro
perty to preserve open space for animals, plants and people. In 1998 the North Missoula Community Development Corporation (NMCDC) sponsored a community campaign to preserve the homestead, creating the Hill and Homestead Preservation Coalition. Since 2000, the NMCDC has managed the homestead through a cooperative agreement with the City of Missoula Parks and Recreation Department. This public-nonprofit partnership provides an innovative model for collaborative community building. Hundreds of people have experienced the homestead’s special gifts. Each person takes away an imprint of the place: a glimpse of an owl in flight; the feel of a worn plow handle; the sound of laughter and apples falling from the crown of a tangled tree. Visit the Homestead:
The homestead is open to the public Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., May through October. Private tours can be arranged on request, and the homestead is available for gatherings, weddings, and private events during the open season. Please contact the homestead via email for more information or to arrange a visit: [email protected]. Research and Volunteer:
Gardening, leading tours, building restoration, and education are just some of the skills you can share or learn at the homestead. We are always looking for new ideas, and welcome collaborations with artists, writers, craftspeople, and others. Students are welcome to contact us to discuss internship opportunities. The homestead also maintains a document archive and an inventory of tools and artifacts for use by researchers who wish to explore the site’s history. All of the artifacts and documents in the collection were salvaged from the homestead sheds and shelters.
