Halfway between Glacier and Yellowstone national parks is Montana's cultural hub and second-largest city, Missoula. With nine historic districts, funky boutiques, live theater, a symphony, diverse dining options, a thriving music scene, ample lodging options, plus access to nearby wilderness areas, unrivaled outdoor playgrounds and five golf clubs, Missoula perfectly combines big-city amenities with outdoor recreation and Montana's natural wonders. This eclectic mountain town is also home to the state's oldest college—the University of Montana.
For a true Missoula experience, stroll along the riverfront trail as it follows the Clark Fork River through the heart of downtown.
Lewis and Clark came through the Missoula Valley in 1805, but it wasn't until 1860 that Europeans settled here (although a Jesuit priest, DeSmet, opened a mission south in the Bitterroot Valley in 1841).
Before settlers arrived, Western Montana was home to the Salish, Pend d'Oreille, and Kootenai tribes. In 1860, C.P. Higgins and F.L. Worden opened a trading market that they called the Hellgate Village. (Today you can buy wine, espresso and huge deli sandwiches at Wordens Market on Higgins Street downtown). The name hellgate came from French trappers, who found carnage from warfare, including bones and bodies, in the canyon on the east edge of town. The Blackfeet and Flathead used the close confines of the canyon to battle one another. The canyon is still called Hellgate today, but only winter winds are a threat now.
Hellgate Village was a success, followed by a flour mill and a sawmill, which the new settlers dubbed Missoula Mills. Mills was eventually dropped, leaving the town with the name Missoula. Which, by the way, comes from a butchered version of the Salish name for the area, "Nemissoolatakoo."
Jeanette Rankin, the nation's first Congresswoman, was reared in Missoula in the late 1800s. She was elected to Congress before women could vote, on the eve of the first World War. She served one term, then was re-elected to Congress on the eve of the second World War. She is the only legislator to have voted against entering both wars.
The town is still steeped in active politics. And its economy is still based on retail trade -- people from hundreds of miles around use Missoula as their base for shopping and for finding medical and other professional services. The University of Montana and the Forest Service are also heavy economic hitters here.
April 17th at 12:01am
Missoula Art Museum 335 North Pattee Missoula, MT
Categories: Arts/Culture, Education, General, Museums
April 17th at 12:00pm
Missoula Urban Demonstration Project 1527 Wyoming St Missoula, MT
Categories: Education, General, Sustainability
April 17th at 12:01am
Clark Fork Coalition Missoula, MT
Categories: General, Nature/Wildlife, Sustainability
802 W. Spruce St.
406.549.6670
101 Carousel Drive
406.549.8382
39 Juniper Lane
406.813.0595
5252 Airway Blvd.
406.541.8000
2000 W. Broadway & 5225 U.S. Highway 10 W. at airport
800.327.9633
327 E. Broadway
406.541.0860
5225 U.S. Highway 10 W. (Missoula Montana Airport)
406.549.4711
825 Mount Ave.
406.549.6121
5280 Grant Creek Road
406.543.0700
5225 U.S. Highway 10 W., Missoula Montana Airport
406.543.7001
1268 Bandmann Trail
406.721.0222
4559 N. Reserve St.
406.549.5260
101 E. Main St.
406.532.3250
1905 W. Broadway
406.542.2311
100 Madison St.
406.728.3100
321 N. Higgins Ave.
406.926.3322
1600 S. Third St. W.
406.541.3663
218 E Main St. Ste C
406.543.4238
3400 Captain Rawn Way at Fort Missoula Building #322
406.728.3476
150 Expressway
406.830.3100
32 Campus Drive #1234
406.243.5686
605 Cold Smoke Ave.
406.728.1660
136 E. Broadway
406.926.1038
825 E. Front St.
406.543.6623
335 N. Pattee
406.728.0447
5225 U.S. Highway 10 W.
406.728.4381
600 Cregg Lane in McCormick Park
406.721.7275
5765 W. Broadway St.
406.329.4934
116 Glacier Dr.
406.273.7224
2901 Brooks St.
406-542-SEED
2305 Brooks St.
406.728.9071
120 North Higgins Avenue
406.541.7070
125 N. Pattee St.
406.542.6252
5705 Grant Creek Road
406.523.4545
Building T-316, 2795 General Foster Ave., Fort Missoula
406.549.5346
1700 Snowbowl Road
406.549.9777
32 Campus Drive, University Center
406.243.4119
32 Campus Drive
406.243.0211
PO Box 5194
406.240.2587
2800 S. Reserve St.
406.541.6550
516 S. Orange St.
406.829.8200
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