Museum to open new exhibit

The ambitious project that began at the Museum at Central School in Kalispell in 2007 to tell the overall story of Flathead Valley history has come to fruition.

The museum will hold a grand opening of its completely new “History of the Flathead Valley” exhibition at 6:30 p.m. July 12.

Made possible by a $32,000 grant from the Montana Department of Commerce’s Office of Tourism, this brand new professionally designed and built exhibition tells why we came, why we stay, how we got here and what we’ve done ever since.

One dramatic change is that the exhibition hall is now filled with daylight, as the room’s six 4- by 8-foot windows are now uncovered for the first time in more than a decade. The newly revealed windows will be filled with large, translucent historic images that amplify the valley history theme while letting in daylight.

"Come see what we’ve all been talking about and asking for since the very beginning, and learn about early valley settlers and the history of valley transportation, agriculture, recreation, communities, communication, the Old Steel Bridge and the little red dress,” museum Director Gil Jordan said.

“We've been working on this project for years, and we're very excited to share it with the public. It’s been a long time coming, but it is finally here.”

There will no charge for admission during the grand opening.

The Museum at Central School is located at 124 Second Ave. E. in Kalispell. Call 756-8381 for more information.