Historic Montana
A Visual Archive
A Visual Archive of Montana's Past
Discover the photographs, places, and people that shaped the Treasure State through our growing collection of historic images and stories.
Featured Images
A glimpse into the moments that defined Montana's remarkable history
Main Street, Bozeman
The bustling heart of a growing frontier town, captured during Montana's transformation from territory to statehood. Horse-drawn carriages share the dusty streets with early automobiles.
The Morrison Family
Homesteaders building their American dream near Great Falls, 1912. Five generations called this land home.
Glacier National Park
Untouched wilderness before the age of tourism, 1915. A photographer's first glimpse of paradise.
Start Exploring
Three ways to discover Montana's visual heritage
Browse Images
Explore hundreds of historic photographs organized by location, era, and subject matter.
Read Stories
Discover the stories behind the images through carefully researched blog posts and articles.
Share Memories
Have historic photos or stories to contribute? We'd love to hear from you and grow our archive.
About This Project
Historic Montana began as a personal passion project to preserve and share the visual history of our remarkable state. What started as a collection of family photographs has grown into a comprehensive archive documenting Montana's transformation from frontier territory to modern state.
Each photograph in our collection has been carefully researched and contextualized, revealing not just what Montana looked like in decades past, but how its people lived, worked, and built communities across this vast landscape. We believe these images serve as windows into stories that might otherwise be forgotten.
This is a labor of love, built with reverence for Montana's heritage and deep respect for the photographers, families, and institutions who preserved these moments in time. We invite you to explore, learn, and help us continue growing this archive for future generations.
Stay Updated
Get notified when we add new photographs and stories to the archive.