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, A DIVERSE POPULATION, ATTRACTS TOURISTS, AND AVERAGES OVER 10,000 VISITORS A YEAR.

LINE 4B: OUTREACH AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES THE MUSEUM IS AN EDUCATIONAL VENUE WITH GUIDED AND INDIVIDUAL 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 ARE UTILIZED BY THE SCHOOLS IN OUR VALLEY AND 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 2021, WE WERE ABLE TO RETAIN OUR DEDICATED STAFF, CONTINUE TO OFFER ENGAGING MUSEUM EXPERIENCES, AND RESUME OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH ACTIVITIES. OUR NEW VIRTUAL EXHIBIT TOURS ON THE WEBSITE AND AN OUTDOOR ICE AGE GLACIERS EXHIBIT ADDED ADDITIONAL OPTIONS TO BE VIEWED BY EVERYONE.

LINE 4C: APPLE DAY IN THE FALL, MCINTOSH APPLE DAY & LIQUID APPLE NIGHT FESTIVALS CELEBRATE THE APPLE BOOM THAT HELPED TO SETTLE THIS AREA IN 1880S TO 1920S. THIS WAS THE 42ND APPLE DAY PRESENTED BY THE MUSEUM, FEATURING 600 HANDMADE MCINTOSH APPLE PIES, APPLE BUTTER STIRRED ONSITE, CARAMEL APPLES, FRESH CIDER FROM A VINTAGE CIDER PRESS, WITH FRESH PRODUCE AND CRAFT VENDORS FROM AROUND THE REGION. 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 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 INCLUDE COUNTRY CHRISTMAS WITH MUSIC AND COWBOY POETRY AND PRESENTATIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THE MUSEUM IS A PASSPORT STATION FOR 3 NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAILS: LEWIS & CLARK, NEZ PERCE, AND ICE AGE GLACIERS WITH EXTENSIVE EXHIBITS TO ADD TO VISITORS' EXPLORATION OF THE PAST.