Flathead Indians at Medicine Tree, 1923 (Montana Historical Society)
Father Pierre-Jean De Smet established St. Mary’s Mission 175 years ago in the southwestern corner of the state. The Montana Historical Society commemorates that milestone when it holds the 43rd annual Montana History Conference, “Roots and Branches, 175 Years of Montana History,” Sept. 22-24 in Hamilton and Stevensville.
“Taking the conference on the road enables us to focus more closely on the history of a specific part of the state – in this case the beautiful Bitterroot Valley,” says Kirby Lambert, outreach and interpretation program manager for the Montana Historical Society.
This year’s conference includes day-long workshops Thursday at the Bitterroot River Inn followed by a barbecue at the palatial Daly Mansion in Hamilton. Field trips take participants to Traveler’s Rest in Lolo, a famous Lewis and Clark site, and St. Mary’s Mission in Stevensville, which will celebrate its 175th anniversary Saturday.
Lambert said he was especially excited to have two esteemed Salish cultural leaders – Tony Incashola and Steve Lozar – among this year’s speakers. “They will be talking about the long history of the Salish people in this area and why they continue to maintain strong emotional and spiritual ties to the home of their ancestors,” he said.
Other topics include “Logging and Lobbying in the Gilded Age,” a look at the issues of forests in the valley from 1882 to 1917; “In the Winner’s Circle: How Montana Thoroughbreds Upset the 19th Century’s Racing Establishment”; and “In the Beginning Was the Word: A Brief History on Who Wrote Montana’s History.”
“In addition to simply being a lot of fun, the conference brings together history enthusiasts from all over the state and from other parts of the nation to learn more about our shared past, and why that past still matters to us as Montanans today,” Lambert said.
To learn more log on to www.montanahistoricalsociety.org, or email [email protected].