Gallatin History Museum

The Gallatin History Museum in Bozeman, MT is like no other when it comes to learning about the history of Gallatin County and southwest Montana.  Besides the jail and its gallows, there are exhibits depicting the lives of early residents to the area. Of course this includes the American Indian tribes and the early settlers from the east and west coasts of America.

A photo archive of over 25,000 historic photos is available for viewing and also reproducing.   There is also a research library with Lewis and Clark files about the Gallatin area.

The museum is located in the old Gallatin County Jail house, which was built in 1911. It is a great old brick building which has stood the test of time.  The building has a colorful history that calls out the wildness of the old west. Some of the famous stories are outlined on their website.

There is a small admission fee with children under 12 admitted free. Free family days are on the 4th Saturday of the month.  What a great way to introduce the kids to the history of this Montana city. Adult group tours are also available. The facility is handicap accessible.  Check out their website for hours, as they vary from Summer to Winter.