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EXPLORE THE HISTORICAL MUSEUMS OF CENTRAL MONTANA Welcome to the Destination Lewistown website. I would like to let you know about some of the wonderful museum options in our area. My name is Deb Bowser and my husband and I are both fourth generation Central Montana residents. We grew up in the rural part of Central Montana and have raised three fine sons here. We have never wanted to live anywhere else and enjoy the sense of history that we find here. Lewistown has evolved from a small trading post to a ranching and business center during the homestead era. Today, you can catch a glimpse of the past through pioneer relics, blacksmith and cowboy tools, guns, Native American artifacts and artwork. The museum is in the process of building on and updating some of its exhibits. They include information and artifacts from railroading, ranching, farming, and mining and you can get insight into what life was like for our previous generations. There is also an exceptional exhibit featuring Ben Steele’s, artwork; Mr. Steele was one of the survivors of the Bataan Death March from World War II. Mr. Steel who resides in Billings has generously lent his artwork for permanent display at the Central Montana Museum. This exhibit is very moving and takes some time to digest. Also on display is a forensic reproduction of Rattlesnake Jake whose skull is located in the museum. There is a fascinating story of a shootout in downtown Lewistown that surrounds the scoundrel. There are fine displays of guns, saddles and some great dioramas of early life in and around Lewistown. There are also some exceptional examples of Indian beadwork and early tools. This area is also known for it fossils, and there are some fine examples of these for the paleontologist in training. The Central Montana Museum also depicts what life was like for the pioneers that were hardy enough to homestead here. There are household items, clothes and examples of school memorabilia that will bring back memories. The Museum is a treasure chest of photo’s and information for those looking to explore the past. Summer hours for the museum start on Memorial Day and go until Labor Day, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. every day. During the off season you can contact a museum volunteer and they will most likely open up for interested parties. There is no fee for the museum, but donations are appreciated, as the museum operates on a purely volunteer basis. Contact me or one of the following volunteers for more information or to set up a tour. Deb Bowser 535-5436 Another fine museum in our immediate area is the Winifred Museum. This state of the art facility has been made possible by the generous donations of Winifred native Norm Asbjornson. Mr. Asbjornson has given back to his hometown in several ways, one of which is the Winifred Community Center. This building houses the a museum, the city offices, space for emergency service vehicles, a library, the local Post Office and a reception hall in the basement. The Winifred museum houses several homestead relics and collections including what is possibly the largest Tonka Toy collection in the world. By visiting the Winifred museum you get a sense of the hardiness of the pioneers who came before us. There is an archeological display as well as a homestead display and examples of fossils which are found along the Missouri River. The military section is still expanding. Winifred, Montana is nestled between the Missouri River Breaks, the Judith River, the Charlie M. Russell Wildlife Refuge and the Judith Mountains in Fergus County. Winifred is 41 miles from Lewistown, 186 miles from Havre, and 146 miles from Great Falls. The Winifred Museum’s hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, and it is closed on Sunday and Monday. There is no entrance fee. Let the Winifred Museum be the start of your tour of the Missouri River Breaks. By visiting our area museums you will begin to appreciate the history of our area and it will give insight into why those of us who live here would never want to live anywhere else. |
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