Museum launches long-awaited history walking tour

Years in the making, the Northwest Montana History Museum launches its long-awaited walking tour June 5.

The museum's Downtown Kalispell Walking Tour: The Iron Horse Snorted in the Garden of Eden runs weekly at 10 a.m. on Mondays through September. Private tours also are available.

The walking tour — researched and organized by museum staff and volunteers — shows how Kalispell evolved into the cultural, economic, and transportation hub of Northwest Montana’s unique Flathead Valley.

“You won’t look at downtown the same way,” Northwest Montana History Museum Director Margaret Davis said.

The 90-minute wheelchair-accessible tour covers approximately 1 mile and makes more than two dozen stops amid 30-plus highlighted buildings that tell the story of Kalispell’s history and people. Along the way walkers learn about architectural styles and modern reuse as well as prominent citizens and early settlers, how a bison herd could buy a city block, and where to spot ghost signs.

All walks begin and end at the Northwest Montana History Museum, 124 Second Ave. E., Kalispell. The program is geared to participants ages 10 and up. Each tour date is limited to 12 participants. A signed waiver is required to participate in the tour and will be provided on-site.

Tickets are $20 for adults; $18 for veterans, seniors and students; $15 for children ages 10-17; $10 for children ages 4-9 and children under 4 are free. Ticket prices include admission to the museum.

Tickets may be purchased at the museum, by calling 756-8381 (press option five) or online at nwmthistory.org (processing fees may apply), where walking tour policies are also posted. Ticket sales end a half-hour before the walk begins.

Proceeds benefit the museum and its preservation and presentation of regional history.

This program is sponsored in part by the Foundation for Montana History.