News & Updates

East Glacier Park artist Valentina LaPier shows “Paintings for MMIP”

Born in Browning, Valentina LaPier was raised in various places throughout the western United States, then returned to Montana in 1987.

She lives and works in East Glacier Park.

LaPier began painting as a young girl, selling her first free-form painting at the age of 14. She became a full-time artist in 1987.

She works primarily with acrylics, although her favorite medium is watercolor. She admires the works of Georges Braque, Robert Motherwell, Paul Klee, and Wassily Kandinsky, and her paintings reflect their influence.

The paintings in this exhibit, such as Yellow Parfleche (shown), were produced between 2023 and 2024 and are shown to raise awareness of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples, or MMIP.

Details: Regular museum hours run 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays; artist’s reception is 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20.

Northwest Montana History Museum, 124 Second Ave. E., Kalispell; 406-756-8381; nwmthistory.org

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Nov. 17 event is one for the books

We’ve got some big events in store this fall, starting with a new exhibit of paintings by Valentina LaPier, the grand reopening of Lumberjacks, Tie Hacks & River Pigs, the Montana Antiques Appraisal Fair, and then the first-ever Northwest Montana Book Festival, set for Nov. 17!

Check back here for more details to post soon. In the meantime, enjoy a last look at Ray Weaver’s photography (above), which comes down this week in our north changing gallery.

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Kalispell’s culture core celebrates the community it serves

The Conrad Mansion Museum, Hockaday Museum of Art, and Northwest Montana History Museum will offer discounted admission to all three institutions 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, to celebrate Locals Day.

Visitors who show their Montana driver’s licenses can buy a “passport” to the Conrad, Hockaday, and the Northwest Montana History Museum—all located within a nine-minute walk of one another in downtown Kalispell. The passports are available for purchase at all three locations.

The passport costs $10 for adults; kids 18 and under are free.

Locals Day is a chance for community institutions to extend their reach, introduce missions and offerings, and gather residents to celebrate Kalispell’s culture core.

Details:
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14
Conrad Mansion, 330 Woodland Ave., 406-755-2166; conradmansion.com
Hockaday Museum of Art, 302 2nd Ave. E., 406-755-5268; hockadaymuseum.com
Northwest Montana History Museum, 124 2nd Ave. E., 406-756-8381; nwmthistory.org

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Submariner’s son checks out exhibit based on dad’s adventure

In honor of the museum’s newest exhibit, The Silent Service: A WWII Diving Denizen of the Deep, Martin Anderson (second from left) — son of submariner and Kalispell native Harry Anderson — paid a visit last week and met with museum volunteers and staff.

Read the full writeup here, thanks to Taylor Inman of the Daily Inter Lake.

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Put on your poncho

Directed by Sergio Leone, the low-budget A Fistful of Dollars was the first of three movies featuring Clint Eastwood as the Man with No Name. After its release in 1964, it was followed by For a Few Dollars More and The Good, the Bad & the Ugly and took Eastwood from a relatively unknown television actor to movie stardom.

The classic spaghetti western screens 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 27, at the Northwest Montana History Museum.

Doors open 6:30 p.m. Admission and popcorn are free, but donations are accepted to help defray the costs of Movie Night. Soda, water, beer, and wine are available for purchase. Seating is provided, but viewers are welcome to bring their own cushions or seating.

Marking its 25-year anniversary, the Northwest Montana History Museum brings the past alive through exhibits, artifacts, educational programs, and events. Regular museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays (and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays through August) at 124 Second Ave. E., Kalispell. Call 406-756-8381.

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The Great Fish Community Challenge is off and swimming

The Northwest Montana History Museum is honored to be selected to participate in the Whitefish Community Foundation’s five-week fundraising blitz that benefits 80 nonprofits doing great work in the Flathead.

Thank you to the organizers and all the past donors! We hope to make this year our must successful run yet, netting the match that kicks in once we reach the $10,000 mark and raising funds that help us present and preserve more Northwest Montana history.

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Walking tours get inky

Reporter Maggie Doherty recently joined one of our Downtown Kalispell Walking Tours, and her extensive writeup is now online.

It’s also featured in a tactile version in the current issue of Flathead Living. Pick one up for fun stories, great pics, and a long look at our town full of interesting architecture and characters.

Aside from the 10 a.m. Monday tours through September (except Sept. 9), we just added two tours at 4 p.m. Fridays, Sept. 20 and 27. After September, the walks roll up for the winter. Get out and dig this history while you can.

Here’s more info, then contact the museum to reserve a space or click here.

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Train project keeps rolling

The Daily Inter Lake recently profiled Brec Gibson, the student who created 3-D models for the train layout to be featured in our renovated “timber room.”

Read all about it here — thanks to reporter Hilary Matheson’s thorough story. Above, Matheson interviews (from left) Gibson, Kalispell Public Schools’ Mike Kelly, and museum board member Bill Dakin, who all made the partnership happen.

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Love and money get a long look

On Tuesday, July 23, Movie Night at the Museum will feature the comedy How to Marry a Millionaire starring Marilyn Monroe, Betty Grable, and Lauren Bacall. The 1953 film tells the story of three New York models who share the same dream: to find and marry a millionaire. To accomplish their goal, they move into an upscale New York apartment and begin their quest. They quickly discover that having money doesn’t necessarily mean having good character or good looks.

However, some excellent possibilities do enter the picture including William Powell, David Wayne, Rory Calhoun, and Cameron Mitchell. As relationships develop the three women all face the same dilemma: Does a life of luxury trump a life with true love?

The film was the first film shot in CinemaScope at Twentieth Century Fox. But the film’s release was delayed until after Fox released the biblical epic “The Robe,” the second film produced by the studio using the process.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Admission and popcorn are free, but donations are accepted to help defray the costs of Movie Night. Soda, water, beer, and wine are available for purchase. Seating is provided, but viewers are welcome to bring their own cushions or seating.

Marking its 25-year anniversary, the Northwest Montana History Museum brings the past alive through exhibits, artifacts, educational programs, and events. Regular museum hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays (and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays through August) at 124 Second Ave. E., Kalispell. For information call 406-756-8381.

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