The brand-new Montana Heritage Center — located in Helena, Montana — officially opened to the public in early December 2025, after more than two decades of planning, design, and fundraising.
The project transformed the existing historic Veterans and Pioneers Memorial Building and added a modern expansion, nearly doubling the facility’s size and effectively creating a state-of-the-art home for the Montana Historical Society (MTHS).
Inside, visitors can now explore a wide array of immersive galleries. The centerpiece is the “Homeland Gallery,” which traces Montana’s history from the Ice Age to the present — including exhibits on Indigenous peoples, pioneer settlers, natural history, and even a replica of a 1920s-era Butte mine shaft.
There’s also an expanded Western-art gallery honoring the iconic works of longtime Montana favorite Charles M. Russell, a rotating gallery for changing exhibits, and resources like a library & archives center, a gift shop, a café (operated by local favorite The Dive Bakery), and spaces for public events.
We had the privilege of featuring the Montana Historical Society a few years back and it looks like we need to make a follow up episode!
Photos (in order):
Visit Montana
Madelyn Heath, MTN News (middle 3)
Montana Best
