Missoula Museums and Historic Sites

• Big Hole Battlefield
• Daly Mansion
• Fort Missoula Museum
• Garnet Ghost Town
• Glacial Lake Missoula
• Missoula Art Museum
• Missoula Historic Districts
• Museum of Art & Culture
• Museum of Mountain Flying
• N. Rockies Heritage Center
• Pioneer Memorial Museum
• Ravalli County Museum
• Saint Mary's Mission
• Stevensville Museum
• Victor Heritage Museum
• Lewis & Clark

Missoula History

Before European settlers moved into the region, Missoula was inhabited by the Salish, Pend d'Oreille, and Kootenai tribes. In the Salish tongue, Missoula was known as "Nemissoolatakoo," which roughly translates into "river of surprise or ambush." It was named accordingly because the narrow valleys of the area were often used for bloody intertribal warfare.

In 1805, legendary American explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, along with their entourage, passed through what is now Missoula. Lewis has been credited with introducing the rest of the United States with the region's most famous botanical contribution, the bitterroot. The flower's scientific name, Lewisia, honors the renowned traveler.

Businessmen C.P. Higgens and F.L Worden established a trading market named Hellgate Village in 1860. Later, a flour mill and sawmill would be built in the vicinity, which settlers dubbed Missoula Mills. Dropping "Mills" from its name, Missoula was officially chartered in 1883 by alderman form of government. Frank Woody was elected as the town's first mayor.

Jeanette Rankin, the first woman elected to Congress, was raised in Missoula. She was elected to the legislature before women even had the right to vote. She was the only legislator to vote against both World Wars.

Today, Missoula is the home of the University of Montana and serves as the regions economic center.