Exhibits
Life in the Valley
Objects, clothing, and displays drawn from the daily lives of the people who settled and worked in the Upper Musselshell.
The ever changing displays in our museum will soon feature vintage western clothing.
Take a break in our theater and enjoy a movie about the people and the history of Montana.
Saddle up the bar and read about the Upper Musselshell Valley's people and their history.
This 1900s buggy and traveling coat are two of several artifacts representative of early 1900s travel in the Valley.
The 50s apartment, original to the Marshall Building, is decked out in 50s artifacts. Display was done by Lynn Graves with the assistance of Sharla Hatveldt.
Travel Display, done by Sharla Hatveldt, displays souvenirs from people who ventured beyond the Valley.
The toy room is proof that our parents and grandparents had more than rocks and sticks to play with.
Winter Display Case.
Beach Display Case includes photographs from Harlowton's first swimming pool in the city park.
The Robertson Jewelry Store's display case houses our collections of crystal, silver, and hand painted china.
'Mom's Closet' display contains period hats, coats, and clothing.
The Heritage Rooms
Rooms donated and arranged by Valley families, each preserving the belongings and stories of those who built this community.
Betty Deering Fraley has put together a lovely room in memory of the Paden–Deering family.
One of two Heritage Rooms owned by Irwin Allen, long time Snowy Mountain rancher, contains a collection of tools used by his family.
Items from the Allen Ranch of yesteryears decorate the second of Irwin Allen's Heritage Rooms.
Loretta Swanson's extensive doll collection is enjoyed by young and old.
Diane Martin Morse and Kay Martin have combined the clothing and artifacts of the Martin Family, long time ranchers on Big Elk, in a display.
Baby clothing and photographs owned by the Martins have been arranged, along with family documents and other articles, by Kay Martin.
The Arthurs, the Cosgriffes, and the Moores are represented in this room. Harry and Peg Cosgriffe's Room.
Memories of family are presented in Margie Ewing's Room. A period dressing set reminds us of a more formal past.
Stan and Enid Kalberg's Heritage Room displays rodeo memorabilia along with impressive sculptures and 'Sis' Hicks' 100 year-old doll.
This small corner room contains an eclectic group of artifacts ranging from gold pans to glass marbles to shirtwaists. Dick and Nancy Stoltz Heritage Room.
Tucked away behind the windows of the August and Effie Winsky Heritage Room are the memories of a railroader/rancher and schoolteacher.
Schools
Wheatland County had numerous rural schoolhouses through the years, some of the oldest established in the 1890s. The schoolroom in the Times Building recreates what that era looked like.
A replica of a one-room schoolhouse from the area is on display, showing how it 'used to be.' (Times Building)
The school room has many artifacts from past teachers and students from the Valley. (Times Building)
Military
Honoring Local Heroes
From the Spanish American War all the way up to present day, the Military Display — put together by Marlene Robertson — honors local heroes who served for our country.
Medical
Doctors, Nurses & Their Tools
The medical display shares the history of some of the area's local doctors and nurses, as well as artifacts used in the medical field across the decades.
Railroad
Milwaukee Road Collection
The John & Ida Belle Pederson Collection — the largest set of HO scale Milwaukee Road models in the United States — tells the story of railroads in Central Montana, including the Montana Railroad (the Jawbone), the Milwaukee Road, the White Sulphur Springs & Yellowstone Park Railroad, the BNSF, and Montana Rail Link.
More about the Pederson Collection →Native American
The Harlan Lucas Collection
The Native American display features the Harlan Lucas Collection and contains artifacts found in numerous bison kill sites and campsites around the Upper Musselshell Valley, as well as other parts of the state.
Business & Industry
The cattle industry has played a vital part in the development of the Upper Musselshell Valley and continues to play a major part.
The office display, done by Sharla Hatveldt, includes numerous typewriters and adding machines, as well as office supplies.
Howard Stewart Collection is a miniature pack string decked out with handmade harnesses, saddles, and more.
Our general store display shows off a collection of various goods from several different decades.
Checks and receipts from early area banks and businesses.
Several banks existed in the Valley during the 1900s. Even though only one survived, you can still see checks and other artifacts of the banks in the teller cage.
Other Cool Stuff
Silver dresser set.
Silver dresser set in wooden box and gold dresser set.
Men's jewelry box with fan and a lady's jewelry box.
Men's jewelry box with fan.
This sled hearse used by the Masons came from Castle Town. It is still home to our ghoulish resident.
Meet Ava
Avaceratops Lammersi
Discovered north of Shawmut, "Ava" is the first of her kind — a species new to science at the time of her discovery. She joins other fine specimens of the geological history of the Upper Musselshell Valley.
The Upper Musselshell Museum is one of fifteen stops on the official Montana Dinosaur Trail.
Montana Dinosaur Trail →