Montana Heritage Center
After years in the making, the Montana Heritage Center in Helena has officially opened its doors to the public, welcoming visitors into a bright, modern space that brings to life the people and places that shaped, and continue to shape, Montana.
What to Expect at the Montana Heritage Center
The Montana Heritage Center is designed as a place to linger, not just pass through. Outside the building, visitors are invited to peruse native gardens and explore landscaped grounds that connect the building to the surrounding Capitol campus. Inside the building, you’ll find yourself in a beautiful and welcoming atrium. Norm’s Café, operated by The Dive Bakery, is a great spot for a coffee and a quick bite to eat. There is also a gift shop full of souvenirs, Montana-made products, and books about the state’s history. Other museum amenities include a flexible event space and a dedicated smudge room created in collaboration with Tribal communities. Three main galleries anchor the space, alongside the Montana Historical Society’s library and archives, where countless stories and artifacts are carefully preserved.
A Sneak Peek Inside the Montana Heritage Center’s Galleries
The Homeland Gallery
This massive, 16,000 square foot gallery walks visitors through a timeline of Montana’s history, from the ice age to modern times. The Homeland Gallery is quite the showstopper, using footage, photos, and artifacts from the Montana Historical Society’s archives to provide a highly interactive and enriching experience. Step into a teepee, see a covered wagon, descend into a mineshaft, and more as you learn about the state’s history. Exhibits on display explore stories of tribal homelands, homesteaders, boom and bust mining cycles, and the modern era, all told from different perspectives.
Charlie M. Russell Gallery
Art lovers will want to make room in their schedule to spend extra time in this exhibit hall, where works from one of the West’s most iconic artist is displayed in low light with incredible frames and powerful quotes are decaled on the surrounding walls. Here, you can get up close to original works or even sit back and admire paintings from a cozy seating area.
Changing Galleries
This exhibit hall is designed with flexibility in mind for rotating exhibits. This space allows for the Heritage Center’s curators to display one large exhibit, three small exhibits, or something in between. It’s currently showcasing the Poindexter Collection of Modern Art, a collection of bold, midcentury abstract art.
Library and Archives
What you’ll see in the galleries is really just the tip of the iceberg. Only a small fraction—around 10%—of the Montana Historical Society’s holdings are on display at any given time. The rest live behind the scenes in the archive and library, where everything from photographs and diaries to quilts, maps, and artifacts is preserved for future generations. For researchers, students, and anyone chasing down a Montana story of their own, these archives are a treasure trove. The archives are still under construction and will open to the public during the spring of 2026.
Hours, Admission, and Location of the Montana Heritage Center
Admission to the Heritage Center is free to all who enter, and the center is officially open to the public during the following hours:
- Monday – Wednesday and Friday: 9 am – 5 pm
- Thursday: 9 am – 6:30 pm
- Saturday: 10 am – 5 pm
- Sunday: 12 pm – 5 pm
The museum is conveniently located right across from the state Capitol at 225 Roberts Street, Helena, Montana 59601.
Visitors will find free parking in the parking lot north of the museum, as well as free street parking around the Capitol. The museum is suitable for people of all ages. The Homeland Gallery features interactive displays suitable for children, as well as a dedicated playroom that features a train playset. Moving at an average pace, visitors can plan on spending about 2 hours at the museum.
Montana History Celebration
Following the ribbon cutting and the official opening of the museum, the Montana Heritage Center is planning a spectacular, multi-day grand opening celebration in partnership with the Helena community in June 2026. Stay tuned for more details as we get closer to the event.
Make a weekend out of it! Explore Helena on Saturday and visit the Montana Heritage Center on Sunday! Start planning your trip to Helena today!
