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.
May 20th at 10:00am
Missoula Art Museum 335 N. Pattee St. Missoula, Montana
City:
Phone: 406.549.6670
138 Big Bend Lane
Missoula, Montana 59802
City:
Phone: 406.549.8382
101 Carousel Drive
Missoula, Montana 59802
City:
Phone: 406.813.0595
232 Daigle Lane
Alberton, Montana 59820
City:
Phone: 406.541.8000
5252 Airway Blvd.
Missoula, Montana 59808
City:
Phone: 800.327.9633
2000 W. Broadway & 5225 U.S. Highway 10 W. at airport
Missoula, Montana 59808
City:
Phone: 406.541.0860
327 E. Broadway
Missoula, Montana 59802
City:
Phone: 406.549.4711
5225 U.S. Highway 10 W. (Missoula International Airport)
Missoula, Montana 59808
City:
Phone: 406.549.6121
825 Mount Ave.
Missoula, Montana 59801
City:
Phone: 406.543.0700
5280 Grant Creek Road
Missoula, Montana 59808
City:
Phone: 406.543.7001
5225 US Highway 10 West, Missoula International Airport
Missoula, MT 59801
City:
Phone: 406.926.2885
1720 Brooks St. Ste A
Missoula, MT 59801
City:
Phone: 406.543.4600
2775 Expo Parkway
Missoula, Montana 59808
City:
Phone: 406.721.0222
1268 Bandmann Trail
Missoula, Montana 59802
City:
Phone: 406.549.7600
1021 E. Broadway St.
Missoula, Montana 59802
City:
Phone: 406.549.5260
4559 N. Reserve St.
Missoula, Montana 59808
City:
Phone: 406.532.3250
140 N. Higgins Ave., Ste. 202
Missoula, Montana 59802
City:
Phone: 800.892.4343
1905 W. Broadway
Missoula, Montana 59808
City:
Phone: 406.728.3100
100 Madison St.
Missoula, Montana 59802
City:
Phone: 406.926.3322
321 N. Higgins Ave.
Missoula, MT 59802
City:
Phone: 406.251.1345
823 39th Street
Missoula, Montana 59803
City:
Phone: 406.541.3663
1600 S. 3rd St. W.
Missoula, Montana 59801
City:
Phone: 406.549.1800
4805 North Reserve Street
Missoula, Montana 59808
City:
Phone: 406.549.9511
5225 W. Broadway St. #12
Missoula, Montana 59808
City:
Phone: 877.782.9444
3720 N. Reserve St.
Missoula, Montana 59808
City:
Phone: 406.543.4238
218 E Main St. Ste C
Missoula, Montana 59802
City:
Phone: 406.728.3476
322 Fort Missoula
Missoula, Montana 59804
City:
Phone: 406.830.3100
150 Expressway
Missoula, Montana 59808
City:
Phone: 800.399.0408
200 S. Pattee St.
Missoula, Montana 59802
City:
Phone: 406.243.5686
32 Campus Drive #1234
Missoula, Montana 59812-1234
City:
Phone: 800.318.9644
9900 Jellystone Ave
Missoula, Montana 59808
City:
Phone: 406.549.4416
9800 Hwy 93 N
Missoula, Montana 59808
City:
Phone: 406.728.1660
605 Cold Smoke Ave.
Bonner, Montana 59823
City:
Phone: 406.549.9000
5059 North Reserve St.
Missoula, MT 59808
City:
Phone: 406.728.7529
200 N. Adams St.
Missoula, Montana 59802
City:
Phone: 406.543.6623
825 E. Front St.
Missoula, Montana 59802
City:
Phone: 406.728.0447
335 N. Pattee
Missoula, Montana 59802
City:
Phone: 406.728.4381
5225 Hwy 10 West
Missoula, Montana 59808
City:
Phone: 800.562.5366
3450 Tina Ave
Missoula, Montana 59808
City:
Phone: 406.329.4934
5765 W Broadway St
Missoula, Montana 59808
City:
Phone: 406.273.7224
116 Glacier Drive
Lolo, Montana 59847
City:
Phone: 406.243.4119
32 Campus Drive, University Center
Missoula, Montana 59812
City:
Phone: 406.721.3644
East end of Missoula International Airport
Missoula, Montana 59808
City:
Phone: 406-542-SEED
2901 Brooks Street
Missoula, Montana 59801
City:
Phone: 406.830.4640
700 Cregg Lane
Missoula, MT 59801
City:
Phone: 406.542.0888
4545 North Reserve Street
Missoula, Montana 59808
City:
Phone: 406.541.7070
114 East Main
Missoula, MT 59802
City:
Phone: 406.523.4545
5705 Grant Creek Rd
Missoula, Montana 59808
City:
Phone: 406.549.5346
Building T-316, 2795 General Foster Ave., Fort Missoula
Missoula, Montana 59804
City:
Phone: 406.549.9777
1700 Snowbowl Rd.
Missoula, Montana 59808
City:
Phone: 406.830.3900
120 Expressway
Missoula, Montana 59808
City:
Phone: 406.549.0028
420 N Higgins Ave. Suite D
Missoula, MT 59802
City:
Phone: 406.728.9865
134 West Front Street
Missoula, MT 59802
City:
Phone: 406.830.4640
131 South Higgins Ave
Missoula, MT 59802
City:
Phone: 406.549.2277
5225 West Broadway #12
Missoula, Montana 59808
City:
Phone: 406.243.0211
32 Campus Drive
Missoula, Montana 59812
City:
Phone: 406.541.6550
2800 S. Reserve St.
Missoula, MT 59801
City:
Phone: 406.829.8200
516 S. Orange St.
Missoula, Montana 59801
Glacier Country Tourism is not responsible for the accuracy of the above business listings provided by the Montana Office of Tourism and Business Development.
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