Gallatin History Museum

Gallatin History Museum Come discover history in the old county jail! Check website for seasonal hours. gallatinhistorymuseum.org

The Gallatin Historical Society, founded in 1977, moved into two rooms in the county jail building in 1979. Built in 1911, the jail was already considered an historic structure. When prisoners were moved to new quarters in January 1982, the county commissioners granted the Society use of the entire building for the Pioneer Museum. In 2014 the membership voted in favor of changing the name to Galla

tin History Museum to better reflect the collection and better serve the community. Since 1982, the Gallatin History Museum has offered a variety of changing exhibits portraying earlier days in the Gallatin Valley. GHM is also active with an ambitious outreach program, sending exhibits of photographs and artifacts to fairs, banks, schools, and conferences. Museum admission costs $7.50 for adults, seniors (62+), students (with valid i.d), and military $5.00, children (under 17) free. Gallatin Historical Society members receive free unlimited admission. An extensive research library and photographic archive are available, free of charge, to visitors during regular museum hours. Many of our historical photographs are available for purchase, along with the wonderful items in the museum bookstore.

06/02/2026

Bozeman, we need your help! Firefighter Ernest Robertson joined the Bozeman Fire Department (BFD) in 1914 and spent several years working on Hose Company #2. On December 15, 1922, Ernest died of smoke inhalation while battling a fire.

To honor his sacrifice as the only BFD firefighter to die while fighting a fire, we're researching to create an exhibit about Ernest. Ernest was born on April 24, 1892, to John Robertson of Canada and Lois Ferguson of Belgrade, Montana. He had two brothers, Leslie and Eugene Robertson. Ernest never married and lived his whole life in Bozeman, apart from two years served in the fire department at Camp Lewis during World War One. If you have a photograph of Ernest or more information on him, please email us at [email protected] or call at (406) 582-2369.

Thank you for helping us honor our history!

Photo courtesy of Gallatin History Museum

Who remembers this Main Street staple? In this sepia view of the south side of Main between Black & Tracy, the F.W. Wool...
05/30/2026

Who remembers this Main Street staple? In this sepia view of the south side of Main between Black & Tracy, the F.W. Woolworth store is prominently featured, with the B&B cafe to the right and Perrin's Jewelry to the left.

Did you know that our museum is funded entirely through admissions, memberships, and donations? You can support our work by donating at gallatinhistorymuseum.org/take-action or consider a membership at gallatinhistorymuseum.org/membership.

Train #5102 at Kerns, Gallatin County, in January 1941. Photographed by Warren R McGee.Did you know that our museum is ...
05/27/2026

Train #5102 at Kerns, Gallatin County, in January 1941. Photographed by Warren R McGee.

Did you know that our museum is funded entirely through admissions, memberships, and donations? You can support our work by donating at gallatinhistorymuseum.org/take-action or consider a membership at gallatinhistorymuseum.org/membership.

View of the Officer's quarters at Fort Ellis from an 1886 Mary Hunter Doane glass negative. Writing on the back indicate...
05/25/2026

View of the Officer's quarters at Fort Ellis from an 1886 Mary Hunter Doane glass negative. Writing on the back indicates the second building from the right with the porch is the home of the commanding officer, with all the other houses being "double."

Did you know that our museum is funded entirely through admissions, memberships, and donations? You can support our work by donating at gallatinhistorymuseum.org/take-action or consider a membership at gallatinhistorymuseum.org/membership.

A black and white group portrait of members of the Hoin and Ryen families standing before a prospector's cabin and the e...
05/22/2026

A black and white group portrait of members of the Hoin and Ryen families standing before a prospector's cabin and the entrance to a gold mine, 1912. Writing on the back of the photo identifies its location as Springhill, denotes the year, and labels those pictured as follows:
BACK
Prospector McQueen
Helmer, Selma, Vernon Hoin.
FRONT
Lena Ryen, Alfred Hoin, Olie Hoin

Did you know that our museum is funded entirely through admissions, memberships, and donations? You can support our work by donating at gallatinhistorymuseum.org/take-action or consider a membership at gallatinhistorymuseum.org/membership.

THIS SATURDAY! May 23, 10 A.M. at the Gallatin History Museum Research Library. Call (406)522-8122 to reserve your spot ...
05/22/2026

THIS SATURDAY! May 23, 10 A.M. at the Gallatin History Museum Research Library. Call (406)522-8122 to reserve your spot today!

Amy will bring free notebooks, which we will personalize together while exploring ideas of how jotting down even a few lines a day, or occasionally launching into detailed narratives, can become a beloved and meaningful habit.

In a digital world, personal journals and letters are priceless treasures. Writer and enthusiastic amateur historian, Amy Grisak, understands this firsthand through her research and personal experiences. There is no better way to get a glimpse into the daily life of a frontier pioneer or understand an explorer’s perspective stepping into completely new territory, than by reading their own written words

As a plea from future generations, Amy will share some of her own experiences from her journals during her decade with National Geographic Television among grizzlies and mountain lions, alongside ordinary days at home raising her own boys. This workshop will encourage everyone to keep records of their lives. It doesn’t have to be dramatic to be valuable. Facebook will be gone someday, and so will Instagram and the rest. We need to write to preserve reality for our grandchildren and the generations to follow.

Lumber piled at Walter Cooper Tie Lumber Camp, West Fork, Gallatin Canyon. The back of the image reads as follows: "Rail...
05/20/2026

Lumber piled at Walter Cooper Tie Lumber Camp, West Fork, Gallatin Canyon.

The back of the image reads as follows: "Railroad ties (probably hand hewn) stacked on Taylor's Fork in the upper Gallatin Canyon, ready to be floated down the Gallatin River to Central Park, then loaded onto railroad cars for delivery to various Western railroads. Taken sometime between 1904 and 1907. Photographer unknown."

Did you know that our museum is funded entirely through admissions, memberships, and donations? You can support our work by donating at gallatinhistorymuseum.org/take-action or consider a membership at gallatinhistorymuseum.org/membership.

NEXT WEEK! May 23, 10 A.M. at the Gallatin History Museum Research Library. Call (406)522-8122 to reserve your spot toda...
05/17/2026

NEXT WEEK! May 23, 10 A.M. at the Gallatin History Museum Research Library. Call (406)522-8122 to reserve your spot today!

In a digital world, personal journals and letters are priceless treasures. Writer and enthusiastic amateur historian, Amy Grisak, understands this firsthand through her research and personal experiences. There is no better way to get a glimpse into the daily life of a frontier pioneer or understand an explorer’s perspective stepping into completely new territory, than by reading their own written words

As a plea from future generations, Amy will share some of her own experiences from her journals during her decade with National Geographic Television among grizzlies and mountain lions, alongside ordinary days at home raising her own boys. This workshop will encourage everyone to keep records of their lives. It doesn’t have to be dramatic to be valuable. Facebook will be gone someday, and so will Instagram and the rest. We need to write to preserve reality for our grandchildren and the generations to follow.

Amy will bring free notebooks, which we will personalize together while exploring ideas of how jotting down even a few lines a day, or occasionally launching into detailed narratives, can become a beloved and meaningful habit.

A color 35mm slide image of the Little Big Men Pizza restaurant in Bozeman, located on the northeast corner of the inter...
05/16/2026

A color 35mm slide image of the Little Big Men Pizza restaurant in Bozeman, located on the northeast corner of the intersection of N. 7th Avenue and W. Mendenhall Street. This image was captured in 1975 by Bertha Clow for the Camera Club of Bozeman's Bicentennial Project.

Did you know that our museum is funded entirely through admissions, memberships, and donations? You can support our work by donating at gallatinhistorymuseum.org/take-action or consider a membership at gallatinhistorymuseum.org/membership.

May 23, 10 A.M. at the Gallatin History Museum Research Library. Call (406)522-8122 to reserve your spot today!In a digi...
05/15/2026

May 23, 10 A.M. at the Gallatin History Museum Research Library. Call (406)522-8122 to reserve your spot today!

In a digital world, personal journals and letters are priceless treasures. Writer and enthusiastic amateur historian, Amy Grisak, understands this firsthand through her research and personal experiences. There is no better way to get a glimpse into the daily life of a frontier pioneer or understand an explorer’s perspective stepping into completely new territory, than by reading their own written words

As a plea from future generations, Amy will share some of her own experiences from her journals during her decade with National Geographic Television among grizzlies and mountain lions, alongside ordinary days at home raising her own boys. This workshop will encourage everyone to keep records of their lives. It doesn’t have to be dramatic to be valuable. Facebook will be gone someday, and so will Instagram and the rest. We need to write to preserve reality for our grandchildren and the generations to follow.

Amy will bring free notebooks, which we will personalize together while exploring ideas of how jotting down even a few lines a day, or occasionally launching into detailed narratives, can become a beloved and meaningful habit.

Address

317 W Main Street
Bozeman, MT
59715

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

(406) 522-8122

Website

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