To Wonderland and Beyond: 49th Annual Montana History Conference

• June 21 2022

The Rock Creek Resort in Red Lodge escaped the record floodwaters in June and will host the 49th annual Montana History Conference Sept. 29 to Oct. 1.

The Montana Historical Society’s conference theme, “To Wonderland and Beyond” commemorates the 150th anniversary of the creation of Yellowstone National Park and includes lecture sessions, workshops, and tours on the history of Yellowstone and the Beartooth Region, Indigenous heritage and culture, conservation, tourism, and more.  

Thursday workshops cover topics ranging from historic preservation to tips for getting your historical books and articles published. Thursday also offers the perennial educator’s workshop and the ever-popular, day-long Made in Montana Tour, which may include stops at the Smith Mine, the Carbon County Museum, local fabricators, and the Red Lodge Brewery.

Thursday evening kicks off in downtown Red Lodge with a progressive reception starting at the Carbon County Museum for appetizers and moving to the Buses of Yellowstone Preservation Trust Museum for dessert. Afterward, stroll down one more block to enjoy vintage Yellowstone National Park movies at the historic Roman Theater.

On Friday and Saturday, conference sessions will feature an array of topics on Yellowstone history including Indigenous occupation, military history, fashion, food, transportation, animals, art, and architecture. Sessions also include the Beartooth region’s history, women doctors, mining and logging, vigilantes, and preserving the Upper Missouri River Breaks.

Friday night’s banquet dinner features the always engaging Dr. Shane Doyle (Aàpsalooke), who will speak about commemorating the park’s 150th birthday with an All-Nations Teepee Village near Gardiner. Conceived in collaboration with representatives from 27 tribes and park staff, Doyle’s project finds meaningful ways to reflect on and recognize the powerful Indigenous history of this landscape.

Saturday afternoon field trips highlight the Beartooth region’s historic and cultural treasures, including a guided trip to Bearcreek to learn about mining history; a tour of Finnish heritage sites around Red Lodge; and a Crow country tour featuring important Indigenous heritage sites.

 “The Beartooth region is jam-packed with history, and we are delighted to offer a glimpse of all it has to offer,” said MTHS conference organizer Christine Brown.

 She notes that the conference would not be possible without invaluable planning assistance from the Carbon County Historical Museum and Historic Preservation Office and the Yellowstone National Park Heritage and Research Center. Much gratitude also goes to the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation, Bureau of Land Management, Montana History Foundation, and Red Lodge Tourism Business Improvement District for funding support.

Full conference information will be mailed by July 1 and online registration will open on July 15. For hotel information and registration details, visit https://bit.ly/MTHSHistoryConference or email christine.brown@mt.gov.