Montana spans 147,040 square feet between the prairie land, the 77 named mountain ranges that are part of the Rocky Mountains, and its 3,000 named lakes and reservoirs. Inside this wide-open space live more than 200 Montana museums with free admission, whose owners and volunteers are dedicated to the preservation of history and to sharing it with locals and visitors of the Big Sky Country. Here are three of the best Montana museums with free admission:
- Yellowstone County Museum, Billings
Yellowstone County Museum/Facebook The Yellowstone County Museum was founded in 1953 and was opened to the public in 1956. The McCormick Cabin, the museum’s authentic entrance, was built by Paul McCormick in 1893 for social gatherings and moved to its current location in 1954. Yellowstone County Museum, 1950 Terminal Cir, Billings, MT 59105, USA
All aboard! This shiny “Old 1031,” as it’s lovingly known, was built in 1903 by the American Locomotive Co. It operated a long 700,000 miles in switching service on Yellowstone Division and Lake Superior.
Yellowstone County Museum/Facebook It was moved on Nov. 16, 1956, and presented to the Yellowstone Museum and Pioneers of Eastern Montana by the Northern Pacific Railway, and dedicated in 1957.
Here, you will also find impressive collections and depictions of the American Indian tribes from the area.
Yellowstone County Museum/Facebook One exhibit is The 1890 Ghost Dance, which displays a variety of objects used in a Ghost Dance, which are on loan from Billings native Larry Williams.
- Huntley Project Museum, Huntley
Huntley Project Museum/Facebook The Huntley Project Museum is a success story of the Huntley Irrigation Project, unfolding its rich history of hard work and perseverance. It began operation on June 26, 1907, as a Bureau of Reclamation Project. Huntley Project Museum, 770 Railroad Hwy, Huntley, MT 59037, USA
The museum sits on 10 acres with hundreds of turn-of-the-century farm equipment and thousands of artifacts.
huntleyprojectmuseum.com The handy boardwalk allows a peak into the past of how pioneers lived, with a First National Bank, a typical church, and a total of 18 homestead buildings.
The serene grounds create a great space for events, such as Civil War Live, which takes place every May.
Huntley Project Museum/Facebook This tipi was displayed during that event, which also features living historians and other depictions of life during that period.
- O’Fallon Historical Museum, Baker
O’Fallon Historical Museum The O’Fallon Historical Museum contains multiple exhibits within six buildings. O’Fallon Historical Museum, 723 S Main St, Baker, MT 59313, USA
This lovely nurse pulls double shifts in the Block Building.
O’Fallon Historical Museum/Facebook In addition to the doctor’s office, it features displays of the Lawler Drug store, the Economy Grocery, the L. Price Company Hardware Store, and a creamery.
As home of “Steer Montana,” recorded as the World’s Largest Steer, the museum receives many visitors just to see this display. He stays in the Fallon County Jail, which was built in 1916, and originally housed the sheriff’s quarters and jail.
Ofallonmuseum.com The steer was born on March 23, 1923, in a community near Baker and died 15 years and four months later.
With a height of 5 feet 9 inches tall, a weight of 3,980 pounds, a girth of 9 feet 2 inches, and a length of 10 feet 4 inches, it is hard to imagine the effort that went into his owner, Jack Guth, taking him on tour around the country.
Andy W/TripAdvisor Upon his death, Guth had him mounted, and continued touring!
Another unusual piece of taxidermy you’ll meet at this museum is this two-headed calf.
O’Fallon Historical Museum You never know what you will find at one of the best museums in Montana.
Are you ready to try out one of these three Montana museums with free admission? Find out more about museums in Montana, and if you visit some of them, please tell us about your trips in the comments below. And while you’re on the road, here are another 12 fun free things to do in Montana.
Yellowstone County Museum/Facebook
The Yellowstone County Museum was founded in 1953 and was opened to the public in 1956. The McCormick Cabin, the museum’s authentic entrance, was built by Paul McCormick in 1893 for social gatherings and moved to its current location in 1954.
Yellowstone County Museum, 1950 Terminal Cir, Billings, MT 59105, USA
It was moved on Nov. 16, 1956, and presented to the Yellowstone Museum and Pioneers of Eastern Montana by the Northern Pacific Railway, and dedicated in 1957.
One exhibit is The 1890 Ghost Dance, which displays a variety of objects used in a Ghost Dance, which are on loan from Billings native Larry Williams.
Huntley Project Museum/Facebook
The Huntley Project Museum is a success story of the Huntley Irrigation Project, unfolding its rich history of hard work and perseverance. It began operation on June 26, 1907, as a Bureau of Reclamation Project.
Huntley Project Museum, 770 Railroad Hwy, Huntley, MT 59037, USA
huntleyprojectmuseum.com
The handy boardwalk allows a peak into the past of how pioneers lived, with a First National Bank, a typical church, and a total of 18 homestead buildings.
This tipi was displayed during that event, which also features living historians and other depictions of life during that period.
O’Fallon Historical Museum
The O’Fallon Historical Museum contains multiple exhibits within six buildings.
O’Fallon Historical Museum, 723 S Main St, Baker, MT 59313, USA
O’Fallon Historical Museum/Facebook
In addition to the doctor’s office, it features displays of the Lawler Drug store, the Economy Grocery, the L. Price Company Hardware Store, and a creamery.
Ofallonmuseum.com
The steer was born on March 23, 1923, in a community near Baker and died 15 years and four months later.
Andy W/TripAdvisor
Upon his death, Guth had him mounted, and continued touring!
You never know what you will find at one of the best museums in Montana.
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