Bitter Root Valley Historical Society

ACQUIRE, PRESERVE, PROTECT AND INTERPRET THE HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE OF THE BITTER ROOT VALLEY AND ITS PEOPLE.

LINE 4A: OPERATES THE RAVALLI COUNTY MUSEUM BRVHS OPERATES AND SUPPORTS THE RAVALLI COUNTY MUSEUM IN THE A.J. GIBSON COURTHOUSE BUILT IN 1900. THE MUSEUM IS STAFFED AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC YEAR-ROUND WITH ROTATING AND PERMANENT EXHIBITS AND EDUCATION PROGRAMMING THAT FOCUSES ON LOCAL HISTORY, ART, AND NATURAL HISTORY. IT PRESERVES ARCHIVES AND ARTIFACTS THAT NUMBER IN THE TENS OF THOUSANDS MAKING THESE ITEMS ACCESSIBLE TO EXPLORE THE HISTORY OF OUR VALLEY AND REGION FROM PAST TO PRESENT DAY. OUR ADMISSION FEE IS NOMINAL AND FREE ON THURSDAY AND SATURDAY. THE MUSEUM SERVES THE ENTIRE REGION ATTRACTING OVER 9,000 VISITORS AND TOURISTS EACH YEAR.

LINE 4D: OTHER CULTURAL HERITAGE EVENTS THE VALLEY'S DIVERSE CULTURAL HERITAGE IS HIGHLIGHTED EACH YEAR WITH BITTER ROOT DAY HONORING THE SALISH CULTURE AND MONTANA'S STATE FLOWER IN JUNE. THE MUSEUM PROGRAMS ALSO INCLUDE COWBOY MUSIC AND POETRY, VETERANS DAY, VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS, SPEAKERS, AND AUTHOR PRESENTATIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THE MUSEUM IS A PASSPORT STATION FOR THREE NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAILS: LEWIS & CLARK, NEZ PERCE, AND ICE AGE GLACIERS WITH EXTENSIVE EXHIBITS TO ADD TO VISITORS' EXPLORATION OF THE PAST.

LINE 4B: MCINTOSH APPLE DAY & LIQUID APPLE NIGHT IN THE FALL, MCINTOSH APPLE DAY & LIQUID APPLE NIGHT FESTIVALS CELEBRATE THE APPLE BOOM THAT HELPED TO SETTLE THIS AREA IN 1880S TO 1920S. 2023 WAS THE 44TH APPLE DAY PRESENTED BY THE MUSEUM, FEATURING OVER 700 HANDMADE MCINTOSH APPLE PIES, APPLE BUTTER STIRRED ONSITE, CARAMEL APPLES, APPLE FRITTERS, AND FRESH CIDER FROM A VINTAGE CIDER PRESS. OVER 175 FRESH PRODUCE, CRAFT AND LOCAL PRODUCT VENDORS FROM AROUND THE REGION ARE ON HAND TO OFFER THEIR WARES TO THE MANY ATTENDEES. THE HARD CIDER FESTIVAL IN THE EVENING OFFERS LOCALLY MADE CIDERS TO TASTE WHILE ENJOYING MUSIC UNDER THE TWINKLE LIGHTS TO CLOSE OUT THE DAY. THESE EVENTS ATTRACT THOUSANDS OF VISITORS, SUPPORTING LOCAL MERCHANTS AND EXPLORING THE HISTORY AND CULTURES OF THE BITTER ROOT VALLEY.

LINE 4C: OUTREACH AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES THE MUSEUM IS AN EDUCATIONAL VENUE WITH GUIDED AND INDIVIDUAL TOUR OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE THE RICH HISTORY OF THE BITTER ROOT. WE INVITE OUR GUESTS TO EXPERIENCE OUR HISTORY THROUGH ACTIVITIES, EVENTS, TOURS, AND EXHIBITS. WE HOST STUDENT FIELD TRIPS FROM THE SCHOOLS IN OUR VALLEY AND ARE VISITED BY HUNDREDS OF LOCAL SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN. FREE FAMILY ACTIVITIES ARE OFFERED EVERY SATURDAY MORNING THAT FOCUSES ON S.T.E.A.M. CONCEPTS AND COMPLEMENT OUR CURRENT EXHIBITS. WE PRESENT ANNUAL CULTURAL HERITAGE EVENTS THAT REINFORCE OUR LIVING HISTORY AND SENSE OF PLACE. LEARNING AND EXPLORING NEW THINGS ARE A PART OF EVERYTHING AT THE MUSEUM. IN 2023, THE MAIN COURTROOM GALLERY CELEBRATED THE 130TH BIRTHDAY AND HISTORY OF RAVALLI COUNTY WITH INTERACTIVE ACTIVITIES, MAPS, PHOTOGRAPHS, AND ARTIFACTS. OUR NINE EXHIBIT GALLERIES HIGHLIGHT LEWIS & CLARK AND THE SALISH PEOPLE, EARLY SETTLERS, LOGGING, AGRICULTURE, VINTAGE TOOLS, WILDLIFE, AND MORE. THE CHILDREN'S ACTIVITY ROOM FEATURES A "MAKER SPACE- AND ENGAGING ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO ENJOY. THE LIVING HISTORY OF THE NEZ PERCE, ICE AGE GLACIERS, AND LEWIS AND CLARK EXHIBITS ARE INSTALLED OUTSIDE ON THE MUSEUM LAWN.