Cascade County Historical Society

09/05/2026

Contrary to any expectations of the title, “Making the Invisible Visible,” there will be no magic wands in play in The History Museum’s Second Saturday presentation, for history rarely deals in magic to dispose of what we don’t want or make real what we hope for. Even so, over the past fifty years, the story of the Cascade County Historical Society’s dogged pursuit to preserve the multifaceted history of the region has continued to develop.

Pushing back naysayers, the group that first gathered on January 8, 1976, in the Great Falls home of Clara Heffern, transformed itself from what some viewed a small gaggle of community members interested in saving a historic stone building. They not only helped the efforts to save that building which now houses the Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art, but they have nurtured the Historical Society now housed in a forty-five thousand square-foot facility filled with historical exhibits, programming, and research opportunities.

Join us Second Saturday, September 12, 2026, at 1:00pm in the Ozark Club event room when former executive director Cindy Kittredge will share her observations of how a community waved its wand again and again to make the invisible visible.

09/04/2026

In the summer of 1885, Great Falls built its first school building. The one-room schoolhouse was situated on land given by the Great Falls Townsite Company at the corner of 5th Street and 3rd Avenue South. It was built for about $900 by volunteers. The first teacher was Reverend John Largent. The small school served other functions for the early citizens; within those walls the First Presbyterian Church was organized, the first community Christmas celebration was held, and it was a polling place for elections. The first year, there were about 40 students. The number of students increased quickly, and the old Whittier school was built the very next year.

Sadly, after great efforts, the first school house could not be saved. Read the full story on our blog (search "school" in the search bar), and visit the museum to see a few preserved pieces of the school house, the fish scale shingles, square nails, and wood.

[image: scan from 1923 Great Falls High School Yearbook]

08/27/2026

The opening of our newest exhibition, Voices of Our Ancestors: The Archival Records of St. Peter's Mission Boarding School was an opportunity to reflect upon this difficult chapter of American history, engage with the past, and listen to Native American voices. Over 200 people attended the opening.

The exhibition includes a book of student names who attended St. Peter's - captured by staff and volunteers from various sources in the Ursuline Western Province (UWP) Archives. Descendants of students who attended St. Peter's Mission are invited to review the list of names and identify potential errors or missing names for corrections - the listings were not always complete, and spelling errors or tribal affiliation mistakes were made by the school.

The opening also marked the public opening of the UWP Archives, opened previously only to tribal members and descendants. Please visit our website (gfhm.org) and through the Research Center tab, find more information about access to this collection.

Visit the exhibition with free admission Tuesday-Friday 10am-5pm and Second Saturdays 12pm-5pm.

08/22/2026

Opening of The Archival Records of St. Peter's Mission - Music by Lee Houle Trio (Little Shell)

08/21/2026

Tonight: the exhibition Voices of Our Ancestors: The Archival Records of St. Peter's Mission Boarding School opens at 6pm.

Image: Photograph, group of Native American female students in school uniform, circa 1900. Ursuline Western Province Records, U97.2.115

08/10/2026

We are honored to have Louis Still Smoking 's work in this upcoming exhibition!

08/04/2026

Take a break from the heat on Second Saturday and celebrate America 250: The History Museum is proud to present a special living history presentation by Channing J. Hartelius, Esq., appearing in full dress as General George Washington.

On Second Saturday, August 8 at 1pm, Hartelius will present "Forging Freedom: George Washington's Influence on the Declaration Of Independence and the Birth of Our Nation." This free admission event will reveal the powerful and often overlooked story of Washington's direct influence on the Declaration itself.

Long before the famous signature of John Hancock, Washington was shaping the destiny of a nation. This engaging presentation will provide the crucial background of the events that led the colonies to the brink of independence, and then explore the three pillars of Washington's influence that made independence possible:Passion, Purpose, and Perseverance. In celebration of America's 250th, hear the story of our founding in Washington's own words and gain a new appreciation for the man whose leadership forged a nation.

07/29/2026

It's a HOT fair week, as evidenced by this poster for the State Fair, published in 1942. 🔥 We highly encourage visiting the fair, getting a hand stamp for re-enty, and taking a cool break at the air-conditioned ❄️ History Museum before returning to the fair! Admission to the museum is free, Tuesday-Friday 10am-5pm in our historic International Harvester tractor dealership building at 422 2nd Street South.

[SC 225 State Fair Records scrapbook]

07/29/2026

Join us July 30 at 1pm to celebrate our friend and long time volunteer, supporter, and former board member, Paul Snyder!

Congratulations to Paul Snyder on being named a 2026 recipient of the Heritage Keeper Award! We invite you to join us as he receives this distinguished honor this Thursday.

📅 July 30, 1:30 PM
📍 The History Museum & Research Center
422 2nd Street South, Great Falls

For more than 30 years, Paul has dedicated his time, resources, and expertise to preserving Montana’s rich heritage. Our Board of Trustees is proud to honor Paul's enduring commitment to our state's past. We hope to see you there!