Montana Field Trip Ideas

Old Montana Prison is located in the Old Montana Prison Complex, which houses five unique museums inside its historic prison walls. The complex includes the Old Montana Prison, Powell County Museum, Frontier Montana Museum, Yesterday's Playthings and the Montana Auto Museum. One fee covers all museums.

Discover yesteryear when you step into the first Territorial Prison in the western United States. The prison was built by convict labor in the late 1800s. The gray sandstone walls of this immense structure are 24 feet high and buried 4 feet deep to prevent escape by tunneling.

You can visit the enclosed courtyard where the convicts exercised, and walk through their austere cell blocks and feel the chills of maximum-security cells. The last prisoners were moved in 1979 after which the facility was opened to the public.

First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park and National Historic Landmark is an archaeological site with possibly the largest bison cliff jump in North America.

Native peoples used this site for at least a thousand years before Lewis and Clark passed through here. 

The bison jump site consists of a mile long sandstone cliff; there are remnants of drive lines on top of the cliff and there are up to 18 ft. of compacted buffalo remains below the cliff. The park has an interpretive trail, picnic tables and a black-tailed prairie dog town to help the visitor better understand the epic history of hunting on the high plains.

 In an effort to pay homage to the buffalo and the people who honor this mighty animal, First Peoples Buffalo Jump State Park has a terrific on-site education Visitor Center. The 6,000 square foot center offers visitors buffalo culture exhibits, a storytelling circle, classroom, gallery and bookstore. An outdoor amphitheater and traditional games playing fields are featured outdoors. 

The Museum collects, preserves, and interprets fine art, historical, archaeological, and ethnological artifacts that pertain to Montana and its adjoining geographic region. Besides caring for the Society's museum collections, program staff conduct research; produce long-term, special, archived, and traveling exhibits; sponsor public programs; answer reference requests from the public; and provide technical assistance to other museums and historical societies.

The Museum also preserves the Original Governor's Mansion as an historic house museum. Education and Outreach Office offers guided tours, school services, conferences, workshops, classes, publications, hands-on activities, and other public events. The Museum also administers volunteer services within the Society and coordinates the Montana History Conference. 

The Capitol is open for self-guided tours Monday-Saturday year-round from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Self-guided tour booklets are available at the information desk on the first floor of the Capitol.

Discover the buildings magnificent history, ornate art, classical architecture and function as the seat of the state’s government.

Montana’s Original Governor’s Mansion, built in 1888 by Helena entrepreneur William Chessman as a symbol of his wealth and influence throughout the Helena community. Between 1913 and 1959, it was home to nine Montana governors and their families.

  Since 1981 the Montana Historical Society has administered the Mansion, and today, the building is carefully restored to its authentic appearance during the mansion's first years as home to Montana's governors. 

The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Interpretive Center imparts to the public a personal sense of President Thomas Jefferson's vision of expanding America to the west; it inspires awe and awakens curiosity toward the challenges faced by the expedition as they portaged the great falls of the Missouri River and explored the 'unknown'; brings to life the daily experiences of the expedition and the environment and native peoples of the 'uncharted West'; and celebrates the indomitable spirit of human discovery we all share.

The Downtown Missoula History Audio Tour takes students through Missoula’s past, from its beginnings as a 19th-century trading post to its growth as a railroad and automobile-era city. Along the way, they’ll explore historic buildings, learn about influential Missoulians, cross the Clark Fork River, and hear some of the more colorful stories from Missoula’s past.

For students interested in creativity and culture, the Downtown Missoula Art Walk Audio Tour explores murals, sculptures, memorials, public art, and the stories behind them. Students can observe artwork firsthand while learning how art reflects a community’s history, culture, and identity.

At approximately 1.5 hours and 1.25 miles, the tours are a manageable addition to a homeschool day—and a great opportunity to get outside and learn beyond the classroom.

$19.99 per person | Available year-round

Bring a charged phone, headphones, and your curiosity!

We invite visitors to explore the rich history of western Montana found throughout our 32 acre Historic Park.

Some of Missoula County’s fascinating history you will discover includes: early Fort history dating from its establishment in 1877 in the midst of the Indian Wars; the exploits of the all African American 25th Infantry Bicycle Corps, the century or more of the forest products industry’s culture and innovations; and the World War II internment camp that once held over 2200 Italian and Japanese nationals.

Over 20 preserved historic buildings and structures bring this history to life on our grounds.

We feature rotating exhibits designed for every age group exploring a range of thought-provoking historical topics. We also host a variety of fun and educational events throughout the year. 

The museum’s displays, created under the direction of the late Helena artist and museum curator Robert Morgan, cover more than two centuries of military experiences related to Montana: from the arduous journeys of the Lewis and Clark Army expedition through Montana in 1805 – 1806, the Indian conflicts of the 1860’s and ‘70’s, the Spanish-American War, World Wars I and II, the Korean Conflict, the Vietnam War, and the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Exhibits, including uniforms, firearms, and equipment worn and used by fighting men for more than a century dramatize these events. 

 The museum complex is housed in buildings constructed between World War I and the early 1930’s. 

 The Museum is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Thursday without admission charge.