The nonprofit Northwest Montana Historical Society operates the Northwest Montana History Museum for the benefit of the Flathead Valley community and visitors.
More than 60 volunteers, including a heavily engaged board of directors, assist one full-time and several part-time staff members to keep the museum operating.
Our Mission
The Northwest Montana Historical Society/Northwest Montana History Museum is dedicated to the cultural and educational enrichment of the community through the acquisition, preservation, and display of material related to local history, and to the involvement of the public through research, community events, and volunteer opportunities.
Our History
The building that houses our museum is a sturdy brick and stone structure, one of the few remaining examples of classic Richardsonian Romanesque architecture, with most of its original hardwood floors, wainscoting, and tin-plate ceilings still in place.
The building was boarded up and threatened with demolition in 1991, but the city of Kalispell renovated the structure at a cost of $2.4 million, and since late 1999 has leased it to the Northwest Montana Historical Society for exhibits, performances, and community meetings.
The Northwest Montana History Museum is the premier facility for exhibits, artifacts, and events focused on regional history.
Our Board
Since the beginning, the Northwest Montana Historical Society (like the Flathead Historical Society before it) has been led and governed by a team of dedicated community volunteers.
Past presidents of the the Northwest Montana Historical Society include Delores Swanburg (1996-1998), Cliff Collins (1999), Sue Dailey (2000-2002), Joann Schadewitz (2003-2005), Robert O’Neil (2006-2009), and Richard Siderius (2010-2012).
Board of Directors
President: Laurie Happ
Vice President: Alex Berry
Secretary: Jim Atkinson
Treasurer: Margaret LeKander
Senior Advisory Directors
Betty Jo Malone
Linda Robbin
Board Officers
Arne Boveng
Sharon Bristow
Bob Brown
Art Burch
Bill Dakin
Donna Danz
Elaine Graber
Sally Hash Savage
Jim Hollensteiner
A.J. King
Rod Wallette
President Emeritus
Richard Siderius
Our Staff
Margaret E. Davis
Executive Director
Margaret E. Davis comes to the museum with decades of experience in journalism, home renovation and construction, and traditional bookbinding. With a deep appreciation for the Treasure State, artifacts, and archives, she has delved into working where history lives.
Donna Buckalew
Museum co-administrator
Donna Buckalew made her way to the Flathead three years ago and is enjoying getting to know the people and places of her Montana adventure.
Bruce Mollberg
Maintenance
Bruce Mollberg grew up in Havre but has called Kalispell home for decades. He started helping at the museum in late 2022.
Elle Eberts-Robocker
Museum co-administrator
Starting first as a volunteer in the museum's acquisitions department, Elle Eberts-Robocker joined the staff in spring 2023.