State of Montana Newsroom
Montana Historical Society Launches Final Push to Complete Heritage Center
Helena, MT – The Montana Historical Society has announced the launch of its final fundraising campaign to complete the Montana Heritage Center, seeking the remaining $1 million needed to reach its $60 million capital campaign goal. With $59 million already raised through the extraordinary generosity of donors across Montana and beyond, the Society is calling on the community to help cross the finish line on this transformative project that will benefit all Montanans.
The final fundraising drive, which runs through July 30, welcomes donations of any amount. The Society emphasizes that every contribution matters as work continues on the Heritage Center – a facility that will serve as Montana’s premier destination for preserving and sharing the state’s rich history.
“We are incredibly grateful to have come this far thanks to the overwhelming support from donors who share our vision,” said Ginny Sullivan, Development Officer for the Montana Historical Society. “This final stretch represents an opportunity for every Montanan to be a part of something truly special – a world class facility that will preserve our heritage for generations to come.”
The completed Montana Heritage Center will add 66,000 square feet of new space to the existing building while extensively remodeling the current 95,000-square-foot structure. The state-of-the-art facility will feature three museum galleries alongside an event center, educational classrooms, a reference room for researchers, a café, retail space featuring Made in Montana products, and an interpretive trail that connects visitors to Montana’s landscape and history.
The success of the capital campaign reflects the deep connection many donors feel to Montana and its history. Major supporters including the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation, Norm Asbjornson, and BNSF Railway have demonstrated exceptional commitment to preserving Montana’s legacy for future generations.
Wells Fargo, who made a gift of $250,000 to the project, has a longstanding relationship with the Society – one that is emblematic of many donors’ connections to the Heritage Center that extend beyond monetary support. In 2004, a large collection of Montana gold including nuggets, wire gold, leaf gold, gold dust, and gold coins was donated by Wells Fargo. Soon, several items from that same collection will be featured in the Heritage Center’s Homeland Gallery. These artifacts and others like them represent the deep roots many donors have in Montana’s story and their ongoing commitment to sharing that narrative.
As the campaign enters its final phase, the Society encourages all Montanans to get involved.
“We hope everyone who values Montana’s history will consider helping us cross the finish line,” said Sullivan. “The Montana Heritage Center will stand as a testament not only to our state’s remarkable history, but also to the generosity and vision of the people who made it possible.”
Donations can be made by visiting mths.mt.gov/donate and will be accepted through July 30. For more information about the Montana Heritage Center and the final campaign, visit montanamuseum.org.