MISSOULA DOWNTOWN HERITAGE INTERPRETIVE PLAN
DRAFT - NOVEMBER 2019
Prepared for the Missoula In collaboration with the City of Missoula Historic Preservation Downtown Foundation by Office and Downtown Missoula Partnership. Supported by a Historical Research Associates, Inc. grant from the Montana Department of Commerce Missoula public art. Credit: HRA TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION ...... 5
PART 1: FOUNDATION ...... 13
Purpose and Guiding Principles 14
Interpretive Goals 15
Themes 15
Interpretive Theme Matrices 19
Setting and Audiences 23
Issues and Influences Affecting Interpretation ...... 24
PART 2: EXISTING CONDITIONS ...... 26
Interpretation in Downtown Missoula ...... 27
Information and Orientation 28
Audience Experience 29
Programming ...... 31
Potential Partners 32
PART 3: RECOMMENDATIONS 37
Introduction 38
Actions Related to the Connectivity of Downtown Interpretation ...... 38 Actions Related to Special Events ...... 41
Actions Related to the Missoula Downtown Master Plan 41
Actions Related to Pre-Visit/Distance Interpretation 42
Actions Related to Interpreting Many Perspectives and Underrepresented Heritage . . 44
Actions Related to Audience Experience ...... 47
Actions Related to Program Administration 51
Actions Related to Scholarship ...... 51
Actions Related to Additional Interpretative Elements 52
Actions Related to Collaboration ...... 52
Actions Related to Educators and Youth Outreach 54
Actions Related to General Outreach and Marketing 54
Recommended Implementation Plan 55
Summary ...... 69
PART 4: PLANNING RESOURCES ...... 70
HRA Interpretive Planning Team ...... 71
Interpretive Planning Advisory Group ...... 71
Acknowledgements ...... 71
Glossary ...... 71
Select Interpretation Resources 72
Select Topical Resources ...... 72 INTRODUCTION
Downtown heritage mural interpreting local railroad history. Credit: HRA
Missoula Downtown Heritage | Interpretive Plan | DRAFT Nov 2019 5 Missoula Textile is a Downtown Missoula heritage business, having been in operation for more than 100 years. Credit: HRA
6 Historica l R esea rch A ssociates As the downtown cultural landscape evolves during this pivotal time, Missoula is presented with an opportunity to both embrace change and to celebrate the characteristics and values that make its Downtown unique — its heritage.
Downtown Missoula is undergoing a period of museums, and heritage areas—like Downtown unprecedented growth and redevelopment. A Missoula—consider ideas, make choices, and set flurry of construction activity is bringing forth priorities about interpretation and educational exciting development in the form of new and programming. remodeled hotels, housing, businesses, shops, The Missoula Downtown Heritage Interpretive restaurants, and even a library. The recently Plan is designed to guide downtown heritage completed Downtown Master Plan presents a interpretation by encouraging audiences far-reaching vision for community design. As to make meaningful connections to the the downtown cultural landscape evolves during shared human experience represented there. this pivotal time, Missoula is presented with It identifies interpretive goals and issues, an opportunity to both embrace change and examines existing conditions, and provides to celebrate the characteristics and values that recommendations to implement over a period make its Downtown unique—its heritage. of time. It also serves as an instructional tool Interpretive planning is an essential first and source of inspiration for interpretive step in preserving the heritage and distinct practitioners. More than anything, it presents characteristics of Downtown Missoula. It is a vision for a comprehensive heritage program about identifying the meaning behind natural that will shape the downtown experience and cultural resources and finding ways to and celebrate the distinct character of the communicate that meaning to the public. community by tying together key natural and Interpretive planning helps historic sites, cultural resources into a cohesive network.
Missoula Downtown Heritage | Interpretive Plan | DRAFT Nov 2019 7 Overview Heritage is the tangible and the Downtown Missoula is many things to many intangible, the natural and the different people. It is a crossroads and a cultural. This collective heritage gathering place. It is the homeland of the Salish reveals a deeper understanding people and a haven for artists and students. of where we have been and It is buildings made of local brick alongside where we are going. marble and granite courthouses. It is a story of displacement, growth, and perseverance. At the root of this place is Downtown Missoula’s heritage. We consider “heritage” to be the Christopher P. Higgins and Frank Worden collective fabric that defines and distinguishes established their trading post at Hell Gate in Missoula. It is the spirit of place. It is how 1860, creating the commercial foundation for Missoula sounds, looks, smells, and feels. It what became Missoula. Many others followed. is what makes Missoula, Missoula. Heritage Missoula grew into an economic hub of Western is the tangible and the intangible, the natural Montana. The Mullan Road brought people and the cultural. It is both the Clark Fork and commerce into the valley and the steel River and the story of the people who lived spines of the Northern Pacific and Milwaukee beside it. It is memory and experience, art and Railroads further bolstered Missoula’s fledgling song. This collective heritage reveals a deeper community. A. B. Hammond’s lumber empire understanding of where we have been and provided the bones for growth, and the mills at where we are going. Bonner supplied not only Missoula, but Butte The wilderness surrounds Missoula. Downtown and other Montana towns as well. Fed by the perches on the banks of the Clark Fork River expansive agricultural wealth of the Flathead and and sits in the shadow of mountains. The valley Bitterroot valleys, Missoula earned its moniker walls bear the rippled reminders of cataclysmic as the Garden City. Today, Downtown carries glacial floods. Fire has shaped the forests, just on the tradition with Saturday markets. The as the rivers have reshaped the valleys over entrepreneurial spirit thrives in its multitude centuries of geologic time. Missoula is the of coffee shops, restaurants, breweries, and natural landscape. boutiques.
Missoula has been both a departure point and Missoula has long been a gathering place. The a destination. The Salish and Pend d’Oreille Salish harvested camas and bitterroot in the gathered here before traveling east through the spring. Presidents have given speeches on its valley to hunt bison; the Blackfeet came here street corners. Music festivals have filled the when ranging west, sometimes using the high long summer days. Every autumn, students canyons for raiding. Lewis and Clark passed return to the University of Montana and infuse this way and ventured west across Lolo Pass. the town with renewed intellectual energy.
8 Historica l R esea rch A ssociates INTRODUCTION
Winter brings skiing enthusiasts and long Preservation Office and other Downtown months to anticipate fishing and huckleberry Missoula stakeholders to form a Downtown picking in the summer. From the St. Paul Missoula Heritage Committee. The fruit of African Methodist Episcopal Church to Har this effort appeared in the development of Shalom to the St. Francis-Xavier Catholic a downtown heritage program they called Church, from the political activism of Gals Unseen Missoula. The interpretive offering, Against Smog Pollution (GASP) to anti-war modeled after a highly successful special event protests, Missoulians have a way of turning of the same name, consisted of a guided tour their collective voices and shared experiences through several historic downtown buildings. into the foundations of their community. They soon added a second tour focused on the historic riverfront and the story of Missoula’s Downtown also represents a haven for the arts. redevelopment over time. The initial success of From the Wilma to the Missoula Community Unseen Missoula was evidenced by a season’s Theater, from vaudeville to River City Roots worth of tours selling out in a matter of weeks. Festival, the downtown streets have hosted artists of all calibers. The Blackfoot River The popularity of Unseen Missoula led the inspired Norman MacLean to write A River heritage committee to consider interpretive Runs Through It, and an affinity for the town planning in order to chart a path forward for brought the passage: “The world is full of future downtown interpretation. In support bastards, the number increasing rapidly the of this effort, the Montana Department of further one gets from Missoula, Montana.” Commerce awarded the Missoula Downtown Each year, filmmakers from around the world Foundation (MDF) a tourism grant to begin arrive for the International Wildlife Film the interpretive planning process. MDF and Festival and Big Sky Documentary Film Historical Research Associates, Inc., (HRA), Festival. Every month, Downtown hosts gallery a historical consulting firm headquartered in showings and gatherings on First Fridays. Downtown Missoula since 1974, provided the remaining resources to produce the plan. The Front Street, once home to a Chinese City of Missoula Historic Preservation Office community and a thriving red-light district, provided oversight and served as an active is now home to boutiques and eateries. The participant throughout this effort. sawmills have given way to parks and river trails. Missoula’s Downtown is the confluence The interpretive planning process began of its past and its future. From many in January 2019 with the first in a series of perspectives, Missoula is a meaningful place. planning meetings held with an interpretive planning advisory group assembled by the Approach MDF (for a list of HRA’s team and advisory group participants, see Planning Resources). In 2018, the Downtown Missoula Partnership Over the course of the spring and summer of collaborated with the Missoula Historic 2019, the advisory group convened for planning
Missoula Downtown Heritage | Interpretive Plan | DRAFT Nov 2019 9 Collectively, the public voice informed the planning process and provided essential feedback. Altogether, the planning team spoke to more than 1,000 community members. The interpretive plan that follows incorporates many perspectives on Missoula’s heritage to reveal both the diverse experiences and shared heritage of Downtown Missoula.
This interpretive plan is presented in four parts. The first part provides the interpretive foundation, which is intended to guide all subsequent interpretive design and media, as well as serve as a resource for anyone developing exhibits, tours, outdoor elements, digital content, and more. The second part describes Downtown Missoula’s existing conditions relative to heritage interpretation Interpretive planning open house, April 2019. Credit: and interpretive facilities under development. Benson Media The third part outlines specific short-, mid-, and long-term interpretive recommendations, meetings led by HRA’s interpretive planners. based on existing site conditions and current As the process evolved, HRA’s team personally plans surrounding the redesign of certain contacted more than two dozen community Downtown Missoula features. The fourth part stakeholders and potential partners to provide provides additional resources for developing an overview of the process and plan. Moreover, interpretation and other information about the the interpretive planning team hosted a public interpretive planning process. open house in April 2019 to share information on the plan and to solicit public feedback.
The interpretive planning team offered other community engagement opportunities by hosting information tables at community events, including Fort Missoula’s annual Fourth of July celebration, Out to Lunch, Downtown Tonight, and at the River City Roots Festival. The Missoula Downtown Association also maintained a website and online comment form specifically to obtain feedback on the interpretive plan. Out to Lunch, July 2019. Credit: HRA
10 Historica l R esea rch A ssociates ¯ Missoula Redevelopment Agency Area Map For: MissoulaDate: MayDowntown 30, 2018 Heritage Interpretive Plan projectMISSOULA area. DOWNTOWN MASTER PLAN AREA - May 2018 0 200 400 600 800 Prepared By: Tod Gass City of Missoula Redevelopment Agency
Feet Note: The information on this map has not been field verified. 140 W. Pine St. Missoula, MT 59802
Scope and Limitations can be developed and to identify opportunities to shape the visitor experience. These This interpretive plan is limited to Downtown recommendations will give future interpretive Missoula and follows the geographic parameters practitioners the tools they need to develop identified in the 2019 Missoula Downtown interpretation. It does not include specific Master Plan. The area includes the Downtown text, design elements, or detailed locations core from Interstate 90 to the park lands along directing where all interpretive media should be the Clark Fork River’s south shore, from the implemented. Old Sawmill District to the mouth of Hellgate Canyon. It also includes the Hip Strip and the Catholic Block, and offers gateway interpretive opportunities directed towards Greenough Park and the North Hills, the University of Montana, and the Bitterroot Branch. Areas excluded from this plan that could be well- served by interpretation include other Missoula neighborhoods, parks, trails, and the University of Montana. This plan recommends that such areas receive attention by interpretive planners.
This interpretive plan is purposefully general in its recommendations, presenting concepts and ideas more than directives. It aims to identify a thematic framework upon which interpretation
Missoula Downtown Heritage | Interpretive Plan | DRAFT Nov 2019 11 “The ‘intangible cultural heritage’ means the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills — as well as the instruments, objects, artifacts and cultural spaces associated therewith — that communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals recognize as part of their cultural heritage. This intangible cultural heritage, transmitted from generation to generation, is constantly recreated by communities and groups in response to their environment, their interaction with nature and their history, and provides them with a sense of identity and continuity, thus promoting respect for cultural diversity and human creativity.”
— United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization PART 1 FOUNDATION
Bricks in the basement of the Hammond Arcade Credit: Athena Photography
Missoula Downtown Heritage | Interpretive Plan | DRAFT Nov 2019 13 Purpose and Guiding Principles “Recognizing that spirit of place is transmitted essentially by The purpose of the heritage interpretive plan people, and that transmission is: is an important part of its To use heritage interpretation to conservation, we declare communicate the intangible values that it is through interactive associated with Downtown Missoula and communication and the preserve its overall spirit of place. participation of the concerned To help identify ways to communicate communities that the spirit Downtown Missoula’s heritage and guide of place is most efficiently how future heritage programming is safeguarded, used and implemented. enhanced. Communication is the best tool for keeping the spirit To build awareness of the heritage values of place alive.” that exist in Downtown Missoula. To help the public understand why —Quebec Declaration on the Downtown Missoula is important from Preservation of the Spirit of Place. multiple perspectives. To provide a resource for interpretive practitioners, partners, and stakeholders Respect culturally sensitive sites and who might develop Downtown Missoula issues. interpretation. Provide clear direction for implementation. As part of this process, the interpretive Support the vision of the Downtown planning group identified the following Master Plan. guiding principles for the planning process: Produce a lasting impact. Explore all available viewpoints. Tell Downtown Missoula’s stories as accurately and honestly as possible. Base interpretation on solid research and knowledge. Maintain an open and respectful dialogue. Involve stakeholders and the public-at- large and keep them engaged as the plan is developed and implemented.
14 Historica l R esea rch A ssociates PART 1: FOUNDATION
Interpretive Goals Themes
Interpret Downtown Missoula’s heritage Themes are the heart of this interpretive plan to preserve the spirit of place, promote and they provide the framework for all aspects community identity, and foster civic pride of interpretive programming. They are intended through compelling and meaningful to provide an accessible way to link tangible stories and engagement. resources to intangible meanings and provide Connect Downtown Missoula visitors to a tool that develops central, relevant ideas for the community and heritage of this place. the audience. Sub-themes and interpretive topics provide additional tools for developing Increase awareness of Missoula’s heritage interpretive opportunities. Collectively, the and its significance in the context of thematic framework presented in this plan regional and national stories. is broad enough to tell an overall story of Create opportunities for all Missoulians Downtown Missoula and can be applied to the to recognize Missoula’s identity and feel many distinct sites that collectively represent a greater personal connection to their Missoula’s heritage. Downtown. When developing interpretation, interpretive Create opportunities for visitors to have entities and community partners should authentic experiences by promoting identify the themes that best relate to their Downtown Missoula heritage resources resources. From there, they can identify sub- and the things that make Missoula unique. themes, interpretive topics, and specific stories Provide opportunities to engage and that communicate the thematic values to educate the public, including school the public. The connectivity of these themes groups and children, on the many facets of should provide a thread that links Downtown Downtown Missoula’s heritage. Missoula’s scattered heritage resources into a Give under-represented communities and cohesive interpretive network. their stories a voice to broaden the overall understanding of the many perspectives that converge here. OVERALL THEME: Use interpretation to foster dialogue Downtown Missoula among heritage organizations, is a Gathering Place stakeholders, and the public-at-large to build a heritage coalition and enhance People have gathered in Missoula from time long-term partnerships. immemorial to obtain sustenance from bitterroot and camas, to fish the waters of the Clark Fork River and Rattlesnake Creek, and to join other tribes hunting bison in the east.
Missoula Downtown Heritage | Interpretive Plan | DRAFT Nov 2019 15 People gathered here for trade, where the Hell by the Hellgate Canyon and is an entryway Gate Trading Post provided the commercial to the mountains and the forests. It is the foundation for an urban center that became a intersection of eastern and western prairies, regional draw for everything from department once frozen beneath sea and ice. It is a hub of stores to Saturday markets. It is a place where river valleys, a source of camas and bitterroot, transportation routes converge: foot paths, and a trout-filled thoroughfare. railroads, highways, and bike trails. People Topics within this theme include: gathered here to learn, create, and inspire through visual and performing art, poetry, and Climate history, ice age floods, Glacial literature. They gathered here to worship. They Lake Missoula, wildfire gathered here to protest. They gathered here to Clark Fork of the Columbia River express themselves in support and opposition, G e o l o g y to find their voice and their audience. People gathered here to listen. They gathered here to Ecology/plants recreate—in the saloons, on the river, on their Fish and wildlife bikes, and on their feet. They gathered here for Geography community. Native peoples E x p l o r e r s THEME 1: Settlers Landscape and Homelands Agriculture Water resources Missoula is a community shaped by its unique F l o o d i n g mountain landscape. This theme focuses on Downtown Missoula’s relationship with its Exploitation of resources natural setting. Downtown Missoula is defined Isolation
16 Historica l R esea rch A ssociates PART 1: FOUNDATION
Regional urban center THEME 3: Environmental thought and leadership Community Life
Stewardship and conservation Downtown Missoula is a community with a rich Forestry and diverse history. This theme relates to the stories of people, places, and events that have happened here and are distinct to this place. It THEME 2: also connects Missoula to larger national and Create and Exchange international trends, experiences, and events. Topics within this theme include: Downtown Missoula is a place where people create and exchange both goods and ideas. Indigenous lifeways This theme focuses on Missoula’s commercial Village life foundations, connections to industry, and legacy Neighborhoods as a center of creativity. Family/home/traditions Topics within this theme include: The ordinary and the exceptional Making and trading from time Religious congregations immemorial to the present Taverns Creating with local materials Businesses Artisans Schools and education Mills Theaters/venues Art Clubs Literature Organizations Products Events Trading posts Immigrants Saturday markets Ethnic groups Department stores Music scene Music Arts community Businesses Poets Opportunities Recreation/Athletics I n d u s t r y Fraternal organizations Transportation Protests Architecture Celebrations
Missoula Downtown Heritage | Interpretive Plan | DRAFT Nov 2019 17 THEME 4: Memory and experience through Memory and Experience literature/art/music Personal stories Throughout its history, people have had many different experiences in Downtown Missoula. Recognition of differences This theme acknowledges that Missoula is a Celebration of diversity place experienced and perceived differently by Connection through shared experiences different people.
Topics within this theme include: A past viewed though different lenses A place of many perspectives For many it is welcoming, for others not Nostalgia for some, painful for others Familiar to some, unfamiliar to others
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Interpretive Theme Matrices
The Interpretive Theme Matrices provide a guide for tying together the site’s interpretive themes to concepts and ideas, as well as topics and stories.
THEME 1: Landscape and Homelands
THEME CONCEPTS + IDEAS TOPICS + STORIES
Missoula is a Including, but not limited to: Climate history, ice age community shaped by floods, glacial lake, fire Investigate the geologic events that its unique mountain shaped the Missoula landscape Clark Fork/Columbia River landscape. This theme focuses on Downtown Tell stories of Glacial Lake Missoula that Geology Missoula’s relationship once covered the entire Missoula valley Ecology/plants with its natural setting. and left evidence of its presence imprinted Downtown Missoula on the landscape Fish and wildlife is defined by the Tell how eastern and western prairies Geography Hellgate Canyon and converge, creating unique grasslands is an entryway to Traditional use the mountains and Show how the mountains formed a natural Explorers the forests. It is the thoroughfare where people passed intersection of eastern through over many eras Settlers and western prairies, once frozen beneath Investigate how Missoula provided a place Agriculture of abundance for the Salish, including sea and ice. It is a Water resources hub of river valleys, a bitterroot and camas grounds and fishing source of camas and locations Flooding bitterroot, and a trout- Address human interactions with a Exploitation of resources filled thoroughfare. changing climate from the ice age to global warming Isolation
Describe the prominent role of the Clark Regional urban center Fork River in community life Environmental thought/ Identify the influential scholars and leadership activists who made this place home Stewardship/conservation
Discuss natural disasters and how they Forestry impacted the community
Demonstrate how conservation efforts and urban restoration projects have impacted Downtown
Describe Missoula’s geographic isolation and how it influenced community interactions
Missoula Downtown Heritage | Interpretive Plan | DRAFT Nov 2019 19 THEME 2: Create and Exchange
THEME CONCEPTS + IDEAS TOPICS + STORIES
Downtown Missoula is Tell about the establishment of Missoula Making and trading from time a place where people Mills immemorial to the present create and exchange Share the stories behind individual legacy Creating with local materials both goods and ideas. businesses This theme focuses on Mills Missoula’s commercial Hold special events celebrating Missoula’s Experience, art, events foundations, music history connections to Literature Describe Missoula connections to the industry, and legacy as timber industry and the history of its a center of creativity. Products sawmills Trading posts Discuss the influence of Milltown Dam on Department stores powering Downtown Saturday markets Promote interpretive opportunities centered on Missoula’s writers and literary Music tradition Businesses Explore Missoula’s historic architecture and share the stories of prominent local Opportunities architects Industry
Interpret Missoula’s ceramics tradition Transportation
Architecture
20 Historica l R esea rch A ssociates PART 1: FOUNDATION
THEME 3: Community Life
THEME CONCEPTS + IDEAS TOPICS + STORIES
Downtown Missoula Install interpretation and integrated public Indigenous lifeways is a community with a art focusing on Salish life Village life rich and diverse history. Explore the connections between the This theme relates to Neighborhoods University of Montana and Downtown the stories of people, Missoula Family/home/traditions places, and events that have happened Hold commemorative events, such as The ordinary and the here and are distinct living history exhibitions exceptional to this place. It also Describe the work of the Sisters of connects Missoula to Religious congregations Providence and their contributions to the larger national and Taverns community international trends, Businesses experiences, and Explore the everyday lives of citizens who events. represent distinct aspects of the Missoula Schools and education experience Theaters/venues/clubs Tell stories about Missoula during Prohibition, such as the Front Street Organizations speakeasys Events
Interpret Downtown Missoula military Immigrants history, including the Spanish American War send-off and Vietnam protests Music scene
Present special events commemorating Arts community music from jazz clubs to house bands to Poets notable performances Recreation/Athletics Identify opportunities to use public art to highlight recreational heritage, from fly Fraternal Organizations fishing to marathon running Protests
Identify opportunities to embed Missoula Celebrations poetry into landscape architecture
Missoula Downtown Heritage | Interpretive Plan | DRAFT Nov 2019 21 THEME 4: Memory and Experience
THEME CONCEPTS + IDEAS TOPICS + STORIES
Throughout its history, Commemorate the Salish displacement A past viewed though people have had many and Chief Charlo’s removal from the different lenses different experiences Bitterroot Valley A place of many perspectives in Downtown Record oral histories with Downtown Missoula. This theme For many it is welcoming, for Missoula residents and business owners, acknowledges that others not this could include oral history events at Missoula is a place churches, taverns, and other gathering Nostalgia for some, painful experienced and places for others perceived differently by different people. Work with community members to Familiar to some, unfamiliar establish oral history programs; encourage to others youth to record memories of elders/senior Memory and experience citizens through literature/art/music Explore the experience of the 25th Personal stories Infantry (bicycle corps) stationed at Fort Missoula and the individuals who served Recognition of differences and their relationship with Downtown and Celebration of diversity the Missoula community Connection through shared Describe the St. Paul AME Church and the experiences history of Missoula’s African American community
Identify opportunities to tell about the experience of Missoula’s Chinese community
Describe the experience of Hmong refugees and their connection to local agriculture and the farmers’ markets
Collaborate with organizations such as EmpowerMT and Together Missoula to celebrate the heritage of underrepresented populations in Missoula
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Setting and Audiences Intended Audiences
The Physical Setting Downtown interpretation should continue to serve current audiences, but efforts should Downtown Missoula is an urban center within be made to connect heritage elements to the a relatively concise geography covered by a grid distinct leisure interests that already attract the of city streets. The Clark Fork River’s position public to Downtown. A special effort should along the southern boundary of the Downtown also be made through outreach to increase core means that motor vehicle traffic from program offerings related to these audiences: the south enters Downtown on one of three Visitors coming for special events, such bridges. Two exits off of Interstate 90 provide as concerts, film and art festivals, and downtown entry points. Broadway Avenue is sporting events the primary east–west corridor leading through Current and former Missoula community Downtown. The public also enters Downtown members interested in aspects of Missoula by foot and bicycle. heritage they personally experienced Audiences School groups, including college classes Researchers, scholars, and artists To design the most ipactful interpretive programming and employ the most effective Global and national visitation, through interpretive techniques, it is necessary to websites, digital content, and digital identify both existing audiences who actively research tools use site interpretive programs and intended Desired Audience audiences who might be encouraged to visit through well-planned interpretation. Experiences
The audiences for interpretive programming in While themes explain what audiences will learn, Downtown can be categorized in many ways; experiences describe what audiences will do. the following are just some of the many groups Experiential that form heritage interpretation audiences: Find Missoula heritage interpretation Missoula area residents integrated into the downtown landscape Families Easily become aware of interpretive Senior citizens program offerings and resources School groups, including elementary, high Follow a heritage trail that is easily school students, and college students identifiable and appealing to a variety of Visitors demographics
Missoula Downtown Heritage | Interpretive Plan | DRAFT Nov 2019 23 Attend an informative and entertaining Learn about the lives of individual Unseen Missoula tour Missoulians and how they are a reflection Participate in a Pop-up Museum of the community-at-large exhibition Reflective Visit a museum or other interpretive Have opportunities to reflect and facility contemplate about the changing landscape, Participate in heritage events that are the people who lived here, and how this engaging and entertaining place influences people on a personal level Envision what Missoula would have looked Understand and respect the legacy of like at various points in history Native peoples, settlers, and everyday Cognitive people Make connections between Missoula and Know that Indigenous people traveled other regional locations and landscapes along this river, fished its shores, and still recognize it as home Make personal connections to Missoula and consider your downtown memories Learn about contemporary Native American cultures and communities Understand the U.S. government’s removal of the Bitterroot Salish from their Issues and Influences homelands Affecting Interpretation
Understand the hardship and isolation The following are internal and external issues many community members felt, especially and influences that may affect interpretation. the oppressed By identifying these, strategies can be Learn about national and global history developed to overcome them. through a local lens Understand that environmental Changing Urban Landscape degradation occured in Missoula and Missoula’s urban landscape is constantly recognize the work associated with changing. Downtown is in the midst of rapid restoration efforts redevelopment, and historic structures are Know that Missoula once existed being demolished and replaced. Interpretive underneath a glacial lake practitioners must identify ways to place Understand ways transportation has remaining historic structures in context, to changed over time provide interpretation in absence of certain Recognize how Missoula has influenced creativity and individuality
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structures, and to identify and celebrate aspects of Missoula’s intangible heritage not Interpretative practitioners represented in the built environment. must identify ways to place remaining historic structures in Staff Capacity context, provide interpretation The Downtown Missoula Partnership (DMP) in absence of certain structures, and the City of Missoula Historic Preservation and identify and celebrate Office (HPO) are the primary entities promoting aspects of Missoula’s intangible a comprehensive heritage interpretation heritage not represented in the program for Downtown Missoula. Each of built environment. these entities operate with a small staff and heritage interpretation is just one of their many functions. Expectations and planning for future heritage interpretation must acknowledge the A Living Downtown constraints of the staff, including funding and time limitations, which are not likely to increase Downtown Missoula is a thriving municipality. in the foreseeable future. At any point, people occupy its streets and other public spaces for many different Heritage and Visibility reasons. This presents both opportunity and challenge for interpretation. As a result, there Downtown Missoula is in a central geographic are distractions such as traffic, congestion, location. It is a regional hub for business, construction, and urban noise. Interpretive city and county government, and certain media and public art may be vandalized by federal functions, such as U.S. District Court. graffiti. Most people who experience Downtown Missoula only interact with the city’s heritage incidentally. Heritage interpretation needs to be integrated into the downtown experience to appeal to a larger segment of the Downtown Missoula population.
Missoula Downtown Heritage | Interpretive Plan | DRAFT Nov 2019 25 PART 2 EXISTING CONDITIONS
Missoula Art Museum, located in Missoula’s historic Carnegie library, building provides an important anchor for Downtown interpretation. Credit: HRA
26 Historica l R esea rch A ssociates We consider “heritage” to be the collective fabric that defines and distinguishes Missoula. It is the spirit of place. It is how Missoula sounds, looks, smells, and feels. It is what makes Missoula, Missoula.
Interpretation in However, there is no central city department Downtown Missoula or staff person responsible for overseeing a municipal heritage program. The people of Missoula have celebrated Various institutions in Downtown Missoula their downtown’s heritage through public offer exhibitions, interpretive programming, interpretation for more than a century. and heritage events. Downtown museums Monuments, plaques, and memorials scattered and cultural entities include the Missoula Art throughout the downtown landscape identify Museum, Zootown Arts Community Center historic buildings and tell stories of the Lewis (ZACC), Missoula Community Theater, and Clark Expedition or Captain John Mullan spectrUM Discovery Area, Families First and his Military Wagon Road. While much Learning Lab, Boone and Crockett Club, and of this existing interpretation provides a base the Montana Museum of Natural History. from which to build a comprehensive heritage interpretation network, some locations could be Some businesses exemplify historic preservation better served with updated signs and public art and adaptive reuse, while others feature that are tied into the larger interpretive themes historic artifacts, collections, and interpretive nd are more inclusive in scope. exhibitions. The Florence Building, The Wilma, Top Hat, Charlie B’s, The Oxford, Downtown Missoula heritage interpretation and the Missoula Club are a few of the many is supported by a variety of organizations and downtown locations that contribute to the municipal entities. The City of Missoula’s HPO, Downtown Missoula cultural landscape. Others Historic Preservation Commission, Public are legacy businesses, which evoke personal Art Committee, and Parks and Recreation memories and speak to the shared experience of Department each assume responsibility for generations of Missoulians. Downtown Missoula heritage interpretation, as do many non-profit cultural organizations.
Missoula Downtown Heritage | Interpretive Plan | DRAFT Nov 2019 27 Information and Orientation
Wayfinding Plan and Wayfinding System
In 2013, Missoula produced a “community visioning plan” for a city-wide wayfinding system. Phase I of the Missoula wayfinding plan was completed in 2016, with the installation of thirty-six pedestrian wayfinding signs and Missoula historic property inventory map two interpretive panels. It recommended the production of nine additional double-sided kiosks that remain in the planning stages. Digital Media Phase II of the plan called for city-wide vehicle wayfinding signs, parking signage Downtown, Websites “district” identification signage, and “Welcome Downtown Missoula Partnership (DMP) has a to Missoula” gateway monuments. website, http://www.missouladowntown.com. It includes event listings, shopping and dining information, information on experiencing Downtown, and other resources. The DMP website also features self-guided Downtown historic and public art walking tours and information on the Unseen Missoula program.
The City of Missoula HPO’s website, https:// www.ci.missoula.mt.us/1657/Historic- Preservation, includes information about the city’s historic districts and individual buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It includes an interactive map of National Register properties, which became active in June 2019.
E-Newsletter
In August 2019, Unseen Missoula produced its first e-newsletter. It contained information Downtown Missoula wayfinding,Credit: HRA from the City of Missoula HPO and details on
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Unseen Missoula tours and special events, and and history. It includes narratives describing provides links to purchase tickets. fifteen historic buildings and one historic site and lists another twenty-one buildings. It also Social Media includes a brief description of four historic districts and lists five others. DMP operates a Facebook account and an Instagram account, @missouladowntown. The News Media City of Missoula HPO operates a Facebook account and an Instagram account, @ The Missoulian publishes original feature stories historicmissoula. Other partner entities also based on Missoula’s heritage. These stories operate accounts on both social media platforms. provide one of the most accessible ways to communicate Missoula’s heritage. In addition, Mobile Apps the Missoula Current online newspaper includes a regular column focused on local history. Local HRA produced several downtown digital television media also features occasional reports walking tours using the mobile app platform covering aspects of Downtown Missoula Next Exit History. Comprising around thirty heritage. sites, the tours are each branded as “Unseen Missoula” and feature images, original interpretive text, and audio narration. The tours cover Downtown as a whole, the Basements and Audience Experience Back Alleys tour, the Hip Strip tour, the River Walk tour, and a Missoula Marathon course Interpretive Media tour that ends in Downtown. Interpretive Signs in Parks Print Publications Interpretive signs and plaques are scattered Brochures throughout Downtown Missoula parks and greenspace. The signs cover an assortment DMP, in cooperation with the City of Missoula of natural history and cultural heritage HPO, publishes a Downtown Historic Walking topics. Some provide effective interpretive Tour map and a Downtown Public Art Tour opportunities and remain in excellent map. The tours were originally produced in 2001 condition. Other signs are weathered and dated and have been updated annually. The tours are or are located in obscure places where they published each year in the Guide to Downtown receive little attention. The signs appear to Missoula. The walking tours consist of a map have been sporadically produced over the past with color-coded overlay lines for history and half-century, and there is little connectively art. Numbers on the map represent stops between the topics they address and messages that correspond with interpretive text. The they deliver. information provides an overview of architecture
Missoula Downtown Heritage | Interpretive Plan | DRAFT Nov 2019 29 public art was commissioned by the City of Missoula’s Public Art Committee. Downtown Missoula also contains scattered historical artifacts, some of which have been the subject of interpretive media. This includes features such as ghost writing, sidewalk bricks, the Missoula Mills stone in Caras Park, and the steam locomotive at Circle Square.
Exhibitions
The Unseen Missoula Pop-up Museum has filled a void for downtown exhibition space by hosting temporary exhibitions.
The Missoula Art Museum has hosted many temporary exhibitions centered on city heritage. Interpretive plaque on the Orange Street Bridge. Credit: HRA This includes exhibitions featuring local artists, as well as shows presented in coordination Interpretive Signs with local communities and organizations, along City Streets such as the Hmong community and the Interpretive plaques on historic structures Missoula Urban Indian Health Center. The constitute the majority of the textual Zootown Arts Community Center (ZACC) interpretive media along Downtown streets. has also hosted heritage exhibitions, including The signs are varied in appearance and cover an a collaborative exhibition on Missoula’s Music assortment of heritage topics. Many of the signs history with the Lost Sounds Project. are cast-metal, such as the signs along Orange Other entities have hosted temporary Street Bridge. Other signs appear to have exhibitions, including St. Francis-Xavier, been produced to standards of the Montana which produced a series of interpretive panels Historical Society in framed, laser-printed about the history of the Catholic Block, and metal plaques. Notable examples include Free members of the Har Shalom community, who Speech Corner and residences in the East Pine prepared a temporary exhibition on the history Historic District. of Missoula’s Jewish community. Downtown Downtown Public Art Missoula heritage is sometimes interpreted and Artifacts during First Friday art exhibitions at local businesses and at events hosted in Caras Park. Missoula has a wealth of public art and several heritage-related public art installations were recently completed. Much of the downtown
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Publications Programming
Downtown Missoula heritage topics are widely Individuals and organizations provide guided covered in publications, with many listed in the heritage interpretation programs in Downtown Selected Topical Resources (Part 4: Planning Missoula. Some have operated commercially, Resources). These resources are available at while others have been conducted as special the Missoula Public Library and downtown events for the public at large. Businesses also bookstores and focus on such topics as local offer heritage programming, such as Big Sky history, natural history, and architecture. Breakout, which features historically-themed Archives and Collections escape room activities and a downtown scavenger hunt. With the recent addition of Heritage research resources are available at the Unseen Missoula program, heritage tours the Missoula Public Library. This facility have expanded to become a regular downtown will open in 2020 with an expanded Montana activity. Room containing local history collections. The University of Montana Archives and Special Unseen Missoula Tours Collections maintains local and regional history Unseen Missoula has offered three separate collections, including collections related to programs. The most successful of these many of the city’s prominent residents. The offerings involve guided tours through historic Historical Museum at Fort Missoula contains buildings. Tour guides include graduate an extensive collection of Downtown Missoula students, historians, teachers, and even artifacts, as well as archival collections. A comedians. The Unseen Missoula program recent addition to Missoula research resources offers interpretive training to the guides, who is The Missoulian online collections, available generally follow a scripted program while through newspapers.com, which includes fully- leading groups of up to twelve individuals. searchable daily newspapers dating back more than a century.
Missoula Downtown Heritage | Interpretive Plan | DRAFT Nov 2019 31 Potential Partners City of Missoula Historic Preservation Office Partnerships and collaboration are themselves a part of Missoula’s heritage. Schools, businesses, The City of Missoula HPO maintains a range non-profits, and municipal entities have worked of heritage resources on its website, including together for decades to develop heritage events an interactive historic properties map, historic and programming. preservation toolkit, and information and resources on historic preservation. The For the purposes of this interpretive plan, office’s mission extends beyond compliance partners are defined as entities that have and administration. Its work with heritage a distinct interest in the interpretive plan. interpretation includes Preservation Week These include representatives from cultural activities, collaboration with the Unseen organizations, as well as representatives from Missoula program, exhibitions at the Pop- implementation entities such as businesses up Museum, and an assortment of other and building owners. Ultimately it will be the programs and events. The office also oversees partners who implement the plan. the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC), Below is a list of several of the primary which is a citizen board assembled to oversee organizational partners and potential partners historic preservation in the city. The HPC involved in Downtown Missoula heritage recognizes heritage businesses and hosts other interpretation: preservation-related special events. Arts Missoula City of Missoula Parks and Recreation Arts Missoula is a community resource for the coordination, development, and support The Department of Parks and Recreation is of arts and culture for the benefit of the responsible for the management of all city parks, Missoula community. It oversees a variety of green spaces, and conservation lands. It oversees heritage-related events, including First Friday, the urban forestry program and also operates Germanfest, and First Night. educational programs, such as summer camps. Missoula parks contain extensive heritage Boone and Crockett Club interpretation features, including signage, Housed in the Historic Milwaukee Depot public art, and artifacts. The parks themselves building, the Boone and Crockett Club’s national are community heritage assets, with many headquarters promotes conservation, wildlife established shortly after the city’s founding. habitat preservation, and wildlife management. Destination Missoula Its gallery includes taxidermized specimens and exhibitions related to club history. An organization dedicated to promoting local tourism, Destination Missoula operates an
32 Historica l R esea rch A ssociates Caras Park serves as Missoula’s town square and offers the ideal jumping off point to experience Downtown Missoula heritage. Credit: HRA interactive website and produces city travel Families First Learning Lab guides that feature extensive information about A longtime operator of a children’s museum Missoula’s heritage resources. It also operates in Downtown Missoula, Families First is now the MSO Hub visitor information center. housed in the Missoula Public Library and Downtown Missoula operates as the Families First Learning Lab. Partnership The organization offers family education and learning through play educational activities. The DMP is the collaboration of three distinct organizations, the Missoula Downtown Historical Museum Accosiation (MDA), the Downtown Business at Fort Missoula Improvement District, and the Missoula The Historical Museum at Fort Missoula Downtown Foundation (MDF). As a collective seeks “to inspire a sense of place and history administrative entity, the DMP promotes for Missoula County by collecting, studying, economic development and an assortment of interpreting, and preserving the region’s natural community initiatives in Downtown Missoula. and cultural heritage.” The organization serves It publishes a historic walking tour, public as Missoula’s historical society, and houses art tour, and operates the Unseen Missoula extensive collections related to Downtown program. It also staffs a team of Downtown Missoula heritage. Among its various programs, Ambassadors who provide information and it administers an annual Preserving Missoula orientation Downtown, operates Caras Park, County History Grant Program, which is offers weekly Out-to-Lunch and Downtown available to all Missoula County non-profit ToNight events and seasonal and special events, organizations involved in historic preservation among other things. and interpretation.
Missoula Downtown Heritage | Interpretive Plan | DRAFT Nov 2019 33 MCAT collections on campus, the opportunity exists for collaboration and partnership with Started as Missoula Community Access Downtown Missoula heritage programs. Television, MCAT is Missoula’s community media resource which promotes the spread Montana Natural of information and exchange of views, ideas, History Center and opinions. It provides opportunities for community use of media equipment, air time Located along the Milwaukee Trail on Hickory to reach television audiences, and coverage of Street, the Montana Natural History Center municipal events and meetings. It houses an (MNHC) hosts exhibitions relating to local extensive archive of media footage ranging natural history and cultural heritage. It also from city council meetings to concerts at long offers programming and events, such as Nature shuttered music venues. It also operates youth Adventure Kids Day Camps, RiverFest, summer camps. teacher workshops/resources, field trips, nature programs, exhibitions, and self-guided nature MCT, Inc. trails. MCT, Inc., is Missoula Children’s Theatre and National Museum of Missoula Community Theatre. MCT Center Forest Service History for the Performing Arts presents theater productions, hosts community events, and The National Museum of Forest Service offers a variety of after-school programs and History (NMFSH), located near Missoula summer camps. International Airport, houses extensive collections related to national forests. Missoula Art Museum Downtown Missoula served as the regional Located in Missoula’s original Carnegie Library, headquarters for the U.S. Forest Service in the Missoula Art Museum rotates approximately the Northern Rockies. The NMFSH offers twenty to twenty-five exhibitions through six education outreach opportunities and curates galleries, with many shows celebrating Missoula’s temporary exhibitions. heritage and arts tradition. National Park Service Montana Museum of Arts and Culture The National Park Service (NPS) administers two national trails that include Downtown Missoula: the Ice Age Floods National The Montana Museum of Arts and Culture Geologic Trail and the Lewis and Clark (MMAC), part of the University of Montana, National Historical Trail. The NPS offers holds a significant fine art collection. interpretive resources and occasional grant While the MMAC typically exhibits its
34 Historica l R esea rch A ssociates PART 2: EXISTING CONDITIONS
funding opportunities connected with such the Zootown Arts Community Center things as small-scale education projects (ZACC) works to bridge community and art in and National History Day awards. Missoula. The ZACC offers an assortment of community programming, including the “Tell Preserve Historic Missoula Us Something” youth storytelling series and children’s rock camps. Preserve Historic Missoula advocates for historic preservation in the city, while also striving to teach the residents of Missoula and Western Montana to appreciate the built environment and cultural resources. The organization’s interpretive programs during Preservation Month include historic pub crawls and celebrations of heritage businesses. Rocky Mountain Museum of Military History
The Rocky Mountain Museum of Military History’s (RMMMH) mission extends well outside of Missoula, but it also serves as an important resource for military and veteran’s history related to Downtown Missoula and the city’s connection to international events. The Roxy Theater
The Roxy Theater, built in 1937 and featuring a recently restored façade, promotes both cinematic and cultural programming and serves as a hub for arts and culture. The International Wildlife Film Festival, which owns the Roxy Theater, is the most notable of several festivals hosted there each year. Zootown Arts Community Center
Housed in the historic Studebaker Building,
Missoula Downtown Heritage | Interpretive Plan | DRAFT Nov 2019 35 “Successful interpreters use accurate and comprehensive information but convey more than facts. If information and learning were the primary goal of most visitors, they would never need to visit. Audiences want something more. They seek meaningful experiences.”
— David L. Larsen, Meaningful Interpretation PART 3 RECOMMENDATIONS
Missoula Downtown Heritage | Interpretive Plan | DRAFT Nov 2019 37 Introduction Actions Related to
The recommendations describe potential the Connectivity actions for partners and interpretive of Downtown practitioners to undertake to strengthen Interpretation heritage interpretation in Downtown Missoula. While some of the recommendations Fundamental to the improvement of the pertain to specific entities, such as the audience experience in Downtown Missoula City of Missoula’s HPO, Missoula Parks is to consider the connectivity of its and Recreation, or the Unseen Missoula heritage interpretation. Interpretive media program, other recommendations provide communicates messages that are thematically useful direction for other partners, which linked, and such communication should direct include municipal and county entities, private audiences to related messages—or, more businesses, and non-profit organizations. The specifically, related interpretive media. The recommended actions are organized into actions that follow are designed to support the several different categories beginning with connectivity of interpretive sites. the connectivity of Downtown interpretation and continuing with actions related to special Heritage Interpretation events, the Missoula Downtown Master Plan, Anchors pre-visit/distance interpretation, audience Successful heritage interpretation is dependent experience, interpreting many perspectives on taking a holistic view of the audience and underrepresented heritage, program experience. Audiences need visitor services administration, scholarship, additional such as basic information, clear orientation, interpretive elements, and collaboration. and restrooms. With Missoula’s occasionally Each recommended action is included in an harsh climate, audiences also need accessible implementation plan, which provides a road indoor spaces. Although Downtown lacks an map for the next ten years. This section of the established visitor center or a history museum, interpretive plan should be revisited regularly Missoula has a number of community resources by partners and interpretive practitioners as that are ideally positioned to anchor downtown conditions change. Staff should adjust the heritage interpretation. They each occupy a implementation plan by removing accomplished distinct section of Downtown, making them tasks and adding new actions when necessary. logical places from which to initiate interpretive experiences.
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Caras Park is home to heritage attractions, extensive local history collection. The including Carousel for Missoula, library is also home to the Families countless special events, and is adjacent First Learning Lab, SpectrUM, and to the Wilma Theater, the Unseen MCAT. Once the library redevelopment Missoula Pop-up Museum, and the Ron is completed, these institutions will MacDonald Riverfront Trail System. share exhibit space offering heritage Walking paths and bike trails begin interpretation. The library already there that pass by public art, interpretive features a variety of heritage-related signs, and memorials. The area is an ideal programming, including “Know Montana” jumping-off point for a variety of heritage history lectures. experiences. Heritage Interpretation Zootown Arts Community Center Gateways (ZACC), located in the historic Studebaker Building, includes creative Like heritage interpretation anchors, spaces featuring exhibitions, classrooms, interpretation gateways present opportunity to and an auditorium for special events. initiate interpretation in Downtown Missoula Besides the ZACC, the Big Sky by providing an entry point for audiences to Documentary Film Institute is managed experience downtown heritage interpretation. from the space. Part of the Gasoline At the same time, they also should interpret Alley historic block, redevelopment the heritage resources existing beyond the city there presents extensive opportunity center in an effort to link them to Downtown to interpret the changing Missoula Missoula. landscape, arts heritage, and historic architecture. Greenough Park and Waterworks Hill Trailhead, situated in the mouth of the Located in Missoula’s original Carnegie Rattlesnake Valley, present interpretive Library, Missoula Art Museum currently opportunities to draw connections features regular exhibitions celebrating between Downtown Missoula and the many facets of Missoula heritage and its Missoula heritage beyond Downtown. arts tradition. The building is adjacent to A new Waterworks Hill trailhead will the Missoula Art Park, across the street provide views of Downtown Missoula, from Adventure Cycling and the Missoula as well as interpretive opportunities. Federal Building, and near the East Pine Pedestrians and cyclists enter Downtown Street Historic District. Missoula from this location. The Missoula Public Library provides University of Montana/Riverbowl/Kim numerous resources to educate the Williams Trail is a gateway to both the public on Missoula heritage, including Hellgate Canyon and the University of the Montana Room, which houses an Montana. The footpaths converging along
Missoula Downtown Heritage | Interpretive Plan | DRAFT Nov 2019 39 Wayfinding, interpretive kiosks, and public art along the Cincinnati Heritage Brewing Trail.Credit: Cincinnati Heritage Brewing Trail. The Freedom Trail street medallion. Credit: The Freedom Trail
the north side of campus provide a main have successfully established heritage trails and access point to Downtown Missoula. A have found that they provide clear direction for wide range of interpretive opportunities audiences to immerse themselves in heritage exist there, but special attention should experiences. Notable examples include the Boston be paid the role of the University and its Freedom Trail, Salem (MA) Heritage Trail, and connection to the Missoula community. Rochester (NY) Heritage Trail. Heritage trails The hub of the Bitterroot Branch and differ from published walking tours in that they Milwaukee Trails is an ideal gateway lead audiences with physical guidance such as for audiences entering Missoula from sidewalk paint, medallions/markers, or both. In locations west and south of Downtown. Downtown Missoula, a collection of such features Its location near the Old Sawmill should be developed and integrated into the District, Montana Museum of Natural landscape to blaze the trail. The development of History, McCormick Park, and Ogren a Heritage Trail also aligns with the directives of Park also present opportunities to link the Downtown Master Plan, which presents the interpretation among these southside concept of “Downtown Trails,” citing the benefits assets. Interpretation leading outward they bring for economic development. can include the connections to southside Identify a series of key heritage resources neighborhoods, Fort Missoula, and the that can be linked together along a Bitterroot Valley beyond. heritage trail. Downtown Missoula Update the downtown wayfinding plan Heritage Trail to provide for clear implementation and design of the Downtown Missoula A primary connectivity recommendation for Heritage Trail. interpreting Downtown Missoula’s heritage is Wayfinding showing the heritage trail the establishment of a Downtown Heritage Trail. should be added to existing wayfinding An ambitious public history project in itself, signs. Missoula should consider following the lead of Wayfinding kiosks identified in the downtowns elsewhere in the United States that
40 Historica l R esea rch A ssociates PART 3: RECOMMENDATIONS
Wayfinding Plan should be developed brew fests, farmers markets, parades, and as stops along the trail. The sign design so much more. The events also present should be modified to include a map of the opportunities for heritage interpretation. heritage trail. A digital kiosk should also Downtown Missoula heritage partners should promote the trail. identify opportunities to integrate heritage The heritage sites along the trail should interpretation into existing special events and be marked with a custom cast metal consider opportunities to host others. medallion or other marker featuring a heritage trail logo. Develop subject-related pop-up exhibitions, such as an exhibit telling the story of the Street medallions/markers and lamp post Missoula farmers markets or an exhibit for a markers will guide trail users to specific brewfest chronicling the history of brewing locations. in Missoula. Guiding bricks showing the trail can also Encourage the production of Missoula be added as streets are redeveloped. heritage-related documentaries for local film Each of the Heritage Interpretation An- festivals. chors (identified above) should be included in the trail and offer a point of entry. Printed Downtown Missoula Heritage Actions Related to the Trail brochures should be produced and be made readily available to provide interpre- Missoula Downtown tation on sites without interpretive signs. Master Plan Customize the existing mobile app to The 2019 Downtown Master Plan presents a correspond with the Heritage Trail or vision for Downtown Missoula over the coming develop a new stand-alone customized app decade. Among the “big ideas” included in the for that purpose. plan are heritage-related initiatives for Missoula Take the necessary steps to build public to “stay original” and “stay authentic,” while awareness of the new trail, since its success ensuring that Downtown remains a “downtown depends of the presence of physical markers for all.” and well-developed interpretation. According to the Master Plan, “New bridges, streets, parks, plazas, gardens, murals, art, historical markers, community centers, fire Actions Related to stations, libraries, and other public buildings Special Events should explore, and express, Missoula’s uniqueness.” The Missoula Downtown Heritage Downtown Missoula hosts special events Interpretive Plan is intended to support the throughout the year. They include concerts, recommendations set forth in the master plan.
Missoula Downtown Heritage | Interpretive Plan | DRAFT Nov 2019 41 Pop-Up Exhibitions Culture Committee into Downtown Missoula public art and interpretation. The Downtown Master Plan calls for pop-up art spaces. As the Unseen Missoula Pop-up Canvasses for Native Museum has shown, temporary exhibitions Art by Native Artists bring life to otherwise under- or un-utilized spaces. Throughout Downtown there are spaces The Downtown Master Plan identifies several that could host temporary exhibitions relating potential canvasses to showcase Native art by to Missoula’s heritage. Places like the Florence local Native artists. Preliminary designs include Building, the new library, and the many patterned streetscapes and a wall mural. Such windows along downtown storefronts could features not only beautify the Downtown be temporarily transformed into interpretive Missoula landscape, but provide an opportunity exhibitions. The pop-up exhibitions, which to recognize Missoula’s Indigenous peoples. could be curated by organizations, individuals, student groups, or other entities, will draw Interpretation to people Downtown and provide an opportunity Support Downtown to explore aspects of Missoula’s heritage that Master Plan Initiatives might otherwise go unnoticed. Identify other opportunities where Caras Park, Higgins Avenue, interpretation can support initiatives & Orange Street Bridges prescribed by the Downtown Master Plan. This should include interpretation to support The Downtown Master Plan envisions park enhancements to Caras Park and other improvements that include a gateway entrance downtown parks, developing Downtown Trails, to Caras Park with new signage and a visitor Historic Preservation, Historic Resources, kiosk to improve wayfinding. It also identifies Local Historic Districts, and in Maintaining opportunities to improve and enhance Higgins Missoula’s Urban Forest. Avenue Underbridge to make it an attractive public space featuring art. This infrastructure provides an ideal opportunity to not only make the area more functional and welcoming, Actions Related to but to integrate heritage interpretation. Pre-visit/Distance Caras Park should also provide an anchor Interpretation for Salish interpretation along the riverfront, including Salish place names. This heritage Pre-visit/distance interpretation is an important interpretive plan supports the master plan’s consideration in any twenty-first century recommendation of incorporating design interpretation, but it presents a unique elements and historical and cultural content challenge for Downtown Missoula. There are so developed in collaboration with the Selis Qlispe many channels of information available, it can
42 Historica l R esea rch A ssociates A collaborative interpretive program with Pedal Missoula and Unseen Missoula, June 2019. Credit: Benson Media become difficult to lead traffic to the preferred Feature lesson plans that incorporate source of information. other elements available on the website, such as research materials like National Unseen Missoula Register of Historic Places nomination Online Presence forms, oral histories, and video clips; partner with schools and educators to The following actions are recommended for develop the lesson plans. the Unseen Missoula site maintained by DMP, Provide information about upcoming https://www.missouladowntown.com/tours/ programs and events, maintain the Unseen unseen-missoula/. Missoula signup infrastructure, and include Create a distinct URL and establish an links to partnering institutions and related independent website for Missoula heritage historical sites and organizations. resources and Unseen Missoula. Create promotional videos featuring Feature a selection of interpretive content Historic Downtown Missoula. and historical photographs. Downtown Heritage Embed selected video clips from an Unseen Missoula YouTube Channel, Social Media which could be developed to host DMP operates a Facebook account and an Missoula heritage videos. Instagram account, @missouladowntown. Feature selected interpretive content The City of Missoula HPO operates a on the site, such as PDFs of mobile app Facebook account and an Instagram account, narratives and exhibition text panels; @historicmissoula. Unseen Missoula operates allow visitors to download the panels, so an Instagram account @Unseen_Missoula that schools, students, and the public-at- that features historical photographs and large can experience interpretation beyond announcements about heritage programming. the geographic confines of Downtown Missoula.
Missoula Downtown Heritage | Interpretive Plan | DRAFT Nov 2019 43 Support and expand current social media Indigenous Heritage presence by keeping content up-to-date Missoula is part of the traditional homelands Expand content by regularly posting of the Salish people. Over the centuries, Salish, historical photographs featuring many Kootenai, Pend d’Oreille. Nez Perce, Blackfeet, Missoula heritage subjects and eras. and other Indigenous groups maintained a Identify opportunities for Downtown presence in the Missoula Valley. Native peoples heritage partners to develop and share figured prominently in the earliest trade that content led to the establishment of Hell Gate and eventually Missoula.
The contributions of Indigenous peoples to the community fabric of Downtown Missoula cannot be overstated. It is also essential to interpret Native American history beyond the nineteenth century. Interpretation should reveal stories of individual communitiy members and their Missoula experience. Interpretation of Native American history should be both stand-alone, integrated into other topics, The rainbow crosswalk adjacent to the Missoula Art Park uses public art to demonstrate inclusivity. Credit: HRA and integrated into the downtown landscape through public art. Actions Related to Consider ways to integrate Native American heritage into other topics, such Interpreting Many as military history, arts, music, literature, Perspectives and poetry, transportation, and other topics. Underrepresented Highlight Native American heritage Heritage
Missoula’s heritage is a collective fabric of many ethnic and religious communities. The story of Missoula’s settlement and the growth of communities is fundamental to its heritage and should continue to be explored, especially from a variety of perspectives. It is also imperative to integrate Missoula’s underrepresented voices into downtown interpretation to provide more accurate, comprehensive, and inclusive interpretation there. Quote integrated into landscape. Credit: NPS
44 Historica l R esea rch A ssociates PART 3: RECOMMENDATIONS
Women’s History According to “Honor Native Like other historical topics, women’s history Land: A Guide and Call to should be both integrated into Downtown Acknowledgement,” prepared Missoula interpretation and presented on by the U.S. Department of Arts its own. Missoula was home to the first and Culture, “Acknowledgement female representative to the U.S. Congress, is a simple, powerful way of Jeannette Rankin, but there are countless showing respect and a step other individuals to highlight and stories to toward correcting the stories share that speak to women’s contribution to and practices that erase politics, business, the arts, and every other topic Indigenous people’s history presented in this plan. and culture and toward inviting Commemorate Missoula’s women’s history and honoring the truth.” U.S. with special programming as part of Department of Commerce, Women’s History Month. usdac.us/nativeland Develop fixed interpretation highlighting the lives and achievements of influential Missoula women, such as Edna Wilma, through public art by commissioning Bess Read, and the Sisters of Providence. Native artists to produce work. Assess existing interpretation to ensure Honor Missoula’s Indigenous people, that women, and their contributions particularly the Salish, through land to Missoula heritage, are represented acknowledgement at public events. throughout. Develop and install a network of signs in African American History Missoula’s riverfront parks that provide Salish place-names based on consultation Missoula’s African American heritage is and collaboration with the Selis Qlispe underrepresented in local histories. Recent Culture Committee. scholarship is helping to alleviate some of this Incorporate view overlays with historical oversight. So, too, should interpretation. photographs at riverfront sites. Highlighting Missoula’s African American Identify an opportunity to recognize history and other underrepresented Missoula as Salish homelands and the populations and the challenges they contribution of the Salish people to faced provides opportunity to understand Missoula heritage by collaborating with Missoula’s past from a variety of the Selis Qlispe Culture Committee in the perspecitves. naming of a major public works project or Identify locations to interpret black in the renaming of existing infrastructure. history in Missoula in meaningful ways,
Missoula Downtown Heritage | Interpretive Plan | DRAFT Nov 2019 45 which can include fixed interpretation, murals, and public programming. Support the efforts of Missoula’s IDEA for Racial Justice to create a mural to commemorate Missoula’s black history. Identify opportunities to commemorate Missoula’s heritage as part of Black History Month. Collaborate with EmpowerMT, which organizes a variety of events in honor of
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, including Har Shalom exhibit on the history of Missoula’s Jewish events such as Read for Peace, youth art community at the Unseen Missoula Pop-up Museum. and essay contests, and a community Credit: HRA march, to develop interpretive programming related to Missoula’s black Identify interpretive opportunities to history. link Missoula’s immigrant communities to other facets of community life, such as Immigrant Communities arts, music, restaurants, and businesses.
Missoula has long been home to immigrant Religious Congregations communities, including Irish, Greek, Italian, Hmong, Belarusian, and many more. From Missoula is home to many religions, with the early settlers of Hell Gate to the refugees missionaries figuring prominently in the town’s of SoftLanding, people from many cultures early settlement and churches remaining among contribute to Missoula’s heritage, and their the cornerstones of community ever since. experiences should be included in future Many of the city’s historic churches remain, heritage interpretation. some are gone. Other congregations have never had their own building. Some of these Incorporate heritage interpretation congregations are prominent, while others are into existing downtown events, such underrepresented in local histories. as Germanfest and the International Food and Culture Day, by developing Identify opportunities to interpret all exhibitions about the history of these types of congregations. Missoula communities. Encourage collaboration on heritage Provide opportunities for immigrant programming among Missoula faith communities to collaborate on pop-up communities and consider the connections exhibits related to their history, art, and between the churches and other facets of culture. Missoula’s heritage.
46 Historica l R esea rch A ssociates PART 3: RECOMMENDATIONS
Collaborate with Downtown Missoula Times” during a First Friday at the space. These churches to offer special history and examples show that the space provides valuable architectural walking tours. opportunities to promote Downtown Missoula heritage.
Consider renaming the space now known Actions Related to as the Pop-up Museum, the “Unseen Audience Experience Missoula Museum” to establish brand consistency and to avoid confusion The following action items are both long- and relative to other pop-up exhibits located short-term in scope, which recognizes that downtown. some items can be undertaken with existing Provide opportunities for partner entities resources while others will take considerable to utilize the Unseen Museum to both planning and outside funding to implement. promote their organization and ensure Wayfinding that the heritage program has regular sources of interpretive content. Install welcome archways as prescribed by Allow exhibitions to remain on a three- the Downtown Master Plan. month rotating basis, depending on Consider how existing and future exterior seasonal considerations and competing interpretation in the wayfinding plan events. relates to the overall visitor experience Build a recurring audience through regular and how it connects with the interpretive special exhibitions. themes. Promote the exhibitions as part of First Complete implementation prescribed by Friday art walks. the Wayfinding Plan but use interpretive Based on audience reception and themes to guide content. participation over time, make annual Integrate the Downtown Missoula assessments of the museum space to Heritage Trail into the wayfinding system. ensure that it continues to meet the Unseen Missoula community needs. Pop-up Museum If demand is sufficient, consider the viability of expansion into adjacent space, Beginning in 2018, the Unseen Missoula investing in improvements, or pursuing a program utilized space in the basement of the different, more-versatile space. Hammond Arcade building for the final stop Heritage Tree Program in its “Basements and Back Alleys” tour. It also hosted a special exhibition called “Sign of the Missoula’s urban forest is essential to its
Missoula Downtown Heritage | Interpretive Plan | DRAFT Nov 2019 47 downtown heritage. The Downtown Master to communicate a desired message, or is Plan recognizes the importance of maintaining unsuccessful at communicating any message Missoula’s urban forests. Interpretation at all, detracts from the overall audience can support this effort by encouraging the experience. community to make personal connections to Assess existing fixed media, such as Missoula’s urban trees. Municipal heritage tree kiosks and panels, to ensure that it is programs exist in cities throughout the country, thematically appropriate for the intended including Spokane, Seattle, and Portland. audience experience. Heritage trees are trees of special importance and their recognition as part of Downtown Undertake a comprehensive review and Missoula heritage can serve to prevent inventory of all exterior interpretive their destruction and facilitate community signage that considers the themes, connections between natural history and intended audiences, and desired audience cultural heritage. experiences. Identify worn or obsolete signs and remove them and replace them Establish a heritage tree program for with signs based on interpretive themes. Downtown Missoula as a collaborative Develop new interpretation to replace effort between the City of Missoula Parks obsolete interpretation that attracts and Recreation and HPO. audiences and captures attention. Develop recognition criteria and inventory Produce interpretive text that is both potentiall eligible heritage trees on city concise and engaging, that facilitates property. personal connections to heritage resources. Develop a program for landowners to list Use consistent design language derived their trees on a heritage tree registry. from the interrpetive themes to build Provide interpretive markers to identify cohesion among new interrpetive media. heritage trees. Develop and install additional interpretive Produce a Missoula heritage tree signs related to the landscape, particularly guidebook to allow the public to better the differences between how it looks now understand and connect with Missoula’s and how it looked at various points in time. urban forest. Collaborate with the Selis Qlispe Culture Offer special events and tours hosted Committee to develop and install signage by urban forestry staff to commemorate and place names relating to Salish lifeways heritage trees on Arbor Day or Earth Day. along the Clark Fork River. Fixed Interpretation Develop fixed interpretation relating to underrepresented Missoula communities, Interpretive media should be developed including the LGBTQ community, ethnic, with clear goals in mind. Media that fails and religious groups.
48 Historica l R esea rch A ssociates PART 3: RECOMMENDATIONS
Bold colors, central location, and visual organization Interpretation at the Sgt. Bozo Dog Park at Fort Missoula provide for an effective interpretive experience at Regional Park allows today’s park users to make personal Missoula’s Rail Link Park. Credit: HRA connections to Fort Missoula’s heritage. Credit: HRA
Interpretation at Milltown State Park, the confluence of Relatively recent heritage values present another layer the Blackfoot and Clark Fork Rivers, is the product of of the community’s story, such as this public art on a collaboration between the Selis Qlispe Culture Committee Downtown signal box showing cyclists visiting Adventure and Montana State Parks. Credit: HRA Cycling. Credit: HRA
Develop fixed interpretation relating to like living history exhibitions and bicycle underrepresented eras and topics. tours. Regardless of the setting, interpretive Intergrate interpretation into the built programs, particularly those presented as part environment, such as painting a highwater of Unseen Missoula, should be developed to mark from the 1908 floods on a bridge, or meet the expectations of the audience and embedding poetry about the Clark Fork align with the standards of such organizations River on a riverside bench. as the National Association for Interpretation and National Park Service. Interpretive Interpretive Programming programming should be presented in a way that will promote both understanding and feeling Interpretive programs includes such things about the subjects being presented, which will as talks, guided walks, and special programs ideally support program goals.
Missoula Downtown Heritage | Interpretive Plan | DRAFT Nov 2019 49 Unseen Missoula’s Basements and Back Alleys tour. Credit: Athena Photography
Develop and implement standards for Create a series of Unseen Missoula program development that can be used by geocaches located at historic points of Unseen Missoula and partners with a clear interest throughout Downtown and record link between interpretive themes and the them on geocaching.com. Each geocache content being presented. should include interpretive text about Facilitate the development of programming heritage resources. that provides audiences with the Collaborate with local taverns to host opportunity to make personal connections Pub Nights/Heritage Trivia focused on to the meanings being explored. Missoula heritage. Develop thematic programs tailored to Organize a Missoula history story-telling specific age groups that also meet current series at downtown taverns, with each curriculum standards that will facilitate venue being the subject of that evening’s dialogue among students. stories. Partner with Missoula County Public Collaborate with the Stories and Stones Schools and other area educators to develop to offer special living history events in a menu of program offerings that identifies Downtown Missoula. applicable grade levels, cognitive learning Use projection technology to project abilities, and targeted content standards. historic facades on contemporary Heritage Entertainment buildings, or to screen a historic concert performance at current and former music Interpretive programing can not only be venues. meaningful, but it can also be entertaining. Downtown heritage interpretive programming should be presented in a variety of formats as a means to appeal to a variety of local and visiting audiences.
50 Historica l R esea rch A ssociates PART 3: RECOMMENDATIONS
Actions Related to Recreation, City of Missoula HPO, Program Administration or the DMP. If delegating management responsibility Downtown Missoula lacks a primary entity to a single position is not feasible, City responsible for interpreting heritage. Rather, it of Missoula Parks and Recreation, City depends on a collaboration of city and county of Missoula HPO, and the DMP should departments, non-profits, and businesses. It consider ways to delegate program is the intention of this interpretive plan to management responsibility in order to support such collaboration and encourage maximize resources, create consistency partnerships in all aspects of downtown among new interpretation, and reduce interpretation. However, a dedicated staff unnecessary administrative overlap. person, or persons, tasked with facilitating the overall downtown heritage program could Staff Training raise the level of what can be accomplished. Facilitate staff review of existing tours A program coordinator could support partner and programs to consider themes, grant proposals, grow the Unseen Missoula intended audiences, and desired audience program, provide a point of contact for experience. special events, and promote connectivity and consistency among newly developed downtown Develop and implement additional interpretation. Whether such responsibility interpretation training opportunities for could be added to an existing position or Unseen Missoula staff and partners. whether it requires a new position is unclear. Develop interpretive training resources for But identifying a point of contact responsible use by Unseen Missoula staff and partners. for program administration would support the ongoing growth of downtown heritage programming and help ensure its viability. Actions Related to Program Management Scholarship
The primary entities involved By supporting scholarship, museums and in Downtown Missoula heritage heritage districts present the opportunity to interpretation should consider the reinvigorate contemporary understanding of feasibility of establishing a heritage historical events. It allows the heritage area to program coordinator position or adding benefit from student/scholar/artist/researcher program management responsibility to an projects, and they, in turn, benefit from existing position. The heritage program practical experience of their work. management responsibility should exist Collaborate with University of Montana within one of several possible downtown faculty to provide opportunity for student- entities: City of Missoula Parks and
Missoula Downtown Heritage | Interpretive Plan | DRAFT Nov 2019 51 led heritage projects. This could involve adequate resources are available, and that public history, public art, filmmaking, mobile app presence supports the goals of drama, and many other areas of study. the heritage interpretive plan. Promote the availability of local research Revise or replace existing mobile app resources at the Missoula Public Library’s tours to coordinate with stops along the Montana Room. proposed heritage trail Provide links to online research resources Digital Kiosks on a dedicated Unseen Missoula website, or other Missoula heritage website. Digital kiosks can be used to feature Encourage the collection of oral histories interpretation, spread information on as part of heritage events. downtown events, and improve wayfinding. Consider the feasibility of installing digital information kiosks at prominent Actions Related to downtown locations. Additional Interpretive Elements Actions Related to An effective interpretive program should strive Collaboration to reach diverse audiences by enhancing its offerings through various forms of media. The success of Downtown Missoula heritage interpretation is dependent on effective Mobile Apps collaboration. Government entities, non- profits, businesses, and individuals all share Mobile apps allow for the delivery of richer the responsibility of communicating Missoula’s and more extensive content than fixed heritage. A concerted effort among these parties interpretation alone. They also can appeal to is essential in developing and maintaining an younger audiences as well as audiences who impactful heritiage program. are unable to physically visit the site. They can offer multiples languages and can provide University of Montana audio content for visually impaired audiences Partnerships and alternate content for people of all abilities. However, it is essential that potential audiences Collaborate with University of Montana are made aware of the such resources and that faculty to offer field school opportunities any technology-based interpretation is regularly for students. Develop additional maintained and updated. internship opportunities related to specific Assess the digital presence of Downtown courses of study. Missoula heritage and ensure that
52 Historica l R esea rch A ssociates PART 3: RECOMMENDATIONS
Collaborate with Art Department faculty opportunities for these organizations to to encourage arts, programming, and host programming and events Downtown. events related to Missoula heritage. Partner with Missoula Urban Indian Partner with the Admissions Office Health Center (MUIHC), which hosts to offer downtown heritage tours to many events related to Missoula’s Native prospective students. American heritage. Past partnerships have Reach out to other academic departments included exhibitions at the Missoula Art (Education, International Relations, Museum and community events at Caras Geography, Native American Studies, etc.) Park. In recent years, the MUIHC has to identify ways to build partnerships. sponsored and organized the Indigenous Film Festival, which not only draws Tribal Cultural Entities visitors Downtown, but also provides and the Native American a forum for lectures and other public Community programming. Other MUIHC downtown events include Native American Heritage Downtown heritage practitioners should night at a Missoula Osprey game and a fun continuously consult and collaborate with run located at McCormick Park. Tribal cultural entities and Missoula Native American community organizations. Media
Collaborate with the Selis Qlispe Develop relationships with media outlets Culture Committee when developing to promote Downtown Missoula heritage interpretation related to Salish and and to utilize available resources. Public Pend d’Oreille history and culture. The entities, like MCAT, maintain extensive committee and its staff are experienced resources relating to Missoula heritage. in developing interpretive panels and Numerous hours of video in their archive maintain other resources. includes everything from municipal committee meetings to concerts. In Collaborate with Missoula County Public addition, MCAT offers A/V equipment for Schools Indian Education Department to public use. host community programming and events. The department maintains a variety of Promote local heritage stories produced by resources related to Native American commercial media, such as local television heritage and includes information on the networks and The Missoulian. Commercial many tribes that form Missoula’s Native media remains an essential vehicle American community. for informing the public on heritage interpretation opportunities and events. Collaborate with American Indian Student Services and Kyiyo: Native American Student Association to provide
Missoula Downtown Heritage | Interpretive Plan | DRAFT Nov 2019 53 Actions Related to Actions Related to Educators and Youth General Outreach and Outreach Marketing
Partners and interpretive practitioners should Proactive marketing and outreach will expose make a concerted effort to build relationships new audiences to Downtown Missoula heritage with educators and youth program facilitators. and will make it increasingly relevant to existing ones. Age Specific Programming Local and Regional Outreach Offer special Unseen Missoula activities and tours to summer camps. Work with community organizations Develop a Junior Ranger-style activity to promote new temporary exhibits, book. programming, and other special events. Develop a Missoula Public Art scavenger Partner with local schools and cultural hunt targeted at families. organizations. Create Unseen Missoula geocaching Work with the Montana Historical collections featuring a variety of heritage Society to develop outreach strategies sites. to market program offerings to heritage tourists elsewhere in Montana. Develop Unseen Missoula Identify and collaborate with cultural Educator Materials institutions that interpret Missoula heritage, including the Historical Museum Prepare an Unseen Missoula resource at Fort Missoula and the Montana guide for teachers. Museum of Arts and Culture to identify Create an advisory group of educators opportunities to exhibit their historical who already teach Downtown Missoula collections, collaborate through digital heritage topics that downtown heritage offerings, and develop other cooperative interpretation practitioners can consult learning opportunities to further shared with regarding development of new interpretive goals. curriculum materials. Develop special programming for events, Integrate state and national curriculum host rotating exhibits, and offer a variety standards into new materials. of interpretive tours to ensure that Work with educators to develop lesson heritage program offerings remain relevant plans and other curriculum-related to their local audience while adding value materials. to the visitor experience.
54 Historica l R esea rch A ssociates PART 3: RECOMMENDATIONS
RECOMMENDED IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Short-Term Mid-Term Long-Term ACTION 2020–2023 2023–2026 2026–2030
Actions Related Connectivity of Downtown Interpretation
Designate interpretation anchors X
Designate heritage gateways X
Develop a downtown heritage trail X
Actions Related to Special Events
Integrate heritage interpretation into existing special X events
Develop subject-related pop-up exhibitions X
Encourage the production of Missoula heritage- X related documentaries
Actions Related to the Missoula Downtown Master Plan
Develop pop-up exhibitions X
Caras Park and bridge improvements X
Canvasses for Native art by local Native artists X
Missoula Downtown Heritage | Interpretive Plan | DRAFT Nov 2019 55 RECOMMENDED IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Short-Term Mid-Term Long-Term ACTION 2020–2023 2023–2026 2026–2030
Actions Related to Pre-visit/Distance Interpretation
Unseen Missoula Online Presence
Create a distinct URL and establish an independent website for Missoula heritage resources and Unseen X Missoula
Feature a selection of interpretive content and X historical photographs
Embed selected video clips X
Feature selected interpretive content on the site X
Feature lesson plans on the site X
Provide information about upcoming programs and X events
Create promotional videos featuring Historic X Downtown Missoula
Downtown Heritage Social Media
Support and expand current social media presence X by keeping content up-to-date
Expand content by regularly posting historical photographs featuring many Missoula heritage X subjects and eras
Identify opportunities for Downtown heritage X partners to develop and share content
56 Historica l R esea rch A ssociates PART 3: RECOMMENDATIONS
RECOMMENDED IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Short-Term Mid-Term Long-Term ACTION 2020–2023 2023–2026 2026–2030
Actions Related to Interpreting Many Perspectives and Underrepresented Heritage
Indigenous Heritage
Integrate Native American heritage into other topics, such as military history, arts, music, literature, poetry, X transportation, and other topics
Highlight Native American heritage through public X art by commissioning Native artists to produce work
Honor Missoula’s Indigenous people, particularly the X Salish, through land acknowledgement
Develop and install a network of signs in Missoula’s riverfront parks that provide Salish place-names X based on consultation and collaboration with the Selis Qlispe Culture Committee
Incorporate view overlays with historical photographs X at riverfront sites
Recognize Missoula as Salish homelands and the con- tribution of the Salish people to Missoula heritage by X collaborating with the Selis Qlispe Culture Committee in the naming of a major public works project
Women’s History
Commemorate Missoula’s women’s history with special programming as part of Women’s History X Month.
Develop fixed interpretation highlighting the lives X and achievements of influential Missoula women.
Missoula Downtown Heritage | Interpretive Plan | DRAFT Nov 2019 57 RECOMMENDED IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Short-Term Mid-Term Long-Term ACTION 2020–2023 2023–2026 2026–2030
Actions Related to Interpreting Many Perspectives and Underrepresented Heritage
Women’s History (con’d)
Assess existing interpretation to ensure that women, and their contributions to Missoula heritage, are X represented throughout.
African American History
Identify locations to interpret black history in Missoula in meaningful ways, which can include fixed X interpretation, murals, and public programming
Support the efforts of Missoula's IDEA for Racial Justice to create a mural to commemorate Missoula’s X black history
Identify opportunities to commemorate Missoula’s X heritage as part of Black History Month
Collaborate with EmpowerMT to develop interpretive X programming related to Missoula’s black history
Immigrant Communities
Contribute to existing downtown events, such as Germanfest and the International Culture and X Food Festival, by developing exhibitions about the history of these Missoula communities
Provide opportunities for immigrant communities to collaborate on pop-up exhibits related to their X history, art, and culture
58 Historica l R esea rch A ssociates PART 3: RECOMMENDATIONS
RECOMMENDED IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Short-Term Mid-Term Long-Term ACTION 2020–2023 2023–2026 2026–2030
Actions Related to Interpreting Many Perspectives and Underrepresented Heritage
Immigrant Communities (con’d)
Identify interpretive opportunities to link Missoula’s immigrant communities to other facets of community X life, such as arts, music, restaurants, and businesses
Religious Congregations
Identify opportunities to interpret all types of X Missoula religious congregations
Encourage collaboration on heritage programming among Missoula faith communities and consider the X connections between the churches and other facets of Missoula’s heritage
Collaborate with Downtown Missoula churches to X offer special history and architectural walking tours
Actions Related to Audience Experience
Wayfinding
Install welcome archways as prescribed by the X Downtown Master Plan
Consider how existing and future exterior interpretation in the wayfinding plan relates to the X overall visitor experience and how it connects with the interpretive themes
Missoula Downtown Heritage | Interpretive Plan | DRAFT Nov 2019 59 RECOMMENDED IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Short-Term Mid-Term Long-Term ACTION 2020–2023 2023–2026 2026–2030
Actions Related to Audience Experience
Wayfinding (con’d)
Complete implementation prescribed by Wayfinding X Plan but use interpretive themes to guide content
Integrate the Downtown Missoula Heritage Trail into X the wayfinding system
Unseen Missoula Pop-up Museum
Consider naming the existing exhibit space the X Unseen Missoula Museum
Provide opportunities for partner entities to utilize the X Museum
Allow exhibitions to remain on a three-month X rotating basis
Build a recurring audience through regular special X exhibitions
Promote the exhibitions as part of First Friday art X walks
Based on audience reception and participation over time, make annual assessments of the museum X space to ensure that it continues to meet the community needs
If demand is sufficient, consider the viability of expansion into adjacent space, investing in X improvements, or pursuing a different, more- versatile space
60 Historica l R esea rch A ssociates PART 3: RECOMMENDATIONS
RECOMMENDED IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Short-Term Mid-Term Long-Term ACTION 2020–2023 2023–2026 2026–2030
Actions Related to Audience Experience
Heritage Tree Program
Establish a heritage tree program for Downtown X Missoula
Develop recognition criteria and inventory eligible X heritage trees on city property
Develop a program for landowners to list their trees X on a heritage tree registry
Provide interpretive markers to identify heritage X trees
Produce a Missoula heritage tree guidebook to allow the public to better understand and connect with X Missoula’s urban forest
Offer special events and tours hosted by urban forestry staff to commemorate heritage trees on X Arbor Day or Earth Day
Fixed Interpretation
Assess existing fixed media, such as kiosk and panels, to ensure that it is thematically appropriate X for the intended audience experience
Undertake a comprehensive inventory and review X of all exterior interpretive signage
Develop new interpretation to replace obsolete interpretation that attracts audiences and X captures attention
Missoula Downtown Heritage | Interpretive Plan | DRAFT Nov 2019 61 RECOMMENDED IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Short-Term Mid-Term Long-Term ACTION 2020–2023 2023–2026 2026–2030
Actions Related to Audience Experience
Fixed Interpretation (con’d)
Produce interpretive text that is both concise and engaging, that facilitates personal connections to X heritage resources
Develop and install additional interpretive signs X related to the landscape
Collaborate with the Selis Qlispe Culture Committee to develop and install signage and place names X relating to Salish lifeways along the Clark Fork River
Develop fixed interpretation relating to X underrepresented Missoula communities
Develop fixed interpretation relating to X underrepresented eras and topics
Intergrate interpretation into the built environment, such as painting a highwater mark from the 1908 X floods on a bridge or embedding poetry about the Clark Fork River on a riverside bench
Heritage Entertainment
Create a series of geocaches located at historic points of interest throughout Downtown and record X them on geocaching.com. Each geocache should include interpretive text about heritage resources
Collaborate with local taverns and breweries to host X pub trivia focused on Missoula heritage
62 Historica l R esea rch A ssociates PART 3: RECOMMENDATIONS
RECOMMENDED IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Short-Term Mid-Term Long-Term ACTION 2020–2023 2023–2026 2026–2030
Actions Related to Audience Experience
Heritage Entertainment (con’d)
Organize a Missoula history story-telling series at downtown taverns, with each venue being the X subject of that evening’s stories
Collaborate with Stories and Stones to offer special X living history events in Downtown Missoula
Use projection technology to project historic facades on contemporary buildings, or to screen a historic X concert performances at music venues
Actions Related to Program Administration
Program Management
Consider the feasibility of establishing a heritage program coordinator position or adding program X management responsibility to an existing position
Consider ways to delegate program management responsibility in order to maximize resources, create X consistency among new interpretation, and reduce unnecessary administrative overlap
Staff Training
Facilitate staff review of existing tours and programs to consider themes, intended audiences, and desired X audience experience
Missoula Downtown Heritage | Interpretive Plan | DRAFT Nov 2019 63 RECOMMENDED IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Short-Term Mid-Term Long-Term ACTION 2020–2023 2023–2026 2026–2030
Actions Related to Program Administration
Staff Training (con’d)
Develop and implement additional interpretation training opportunities for Unseen Missoula staff and X partners
Develop interpretive training resources for use by X Unseen Missoula staff and partners
Actions Related to Scholarship
Collaborate with University of Montana faculty to provide opportunity for student-led heritage X projects. This could involve public history, public art, filmmaking, drama, and many other areas of study
Promote the availability of local research resources X at the Missoula Public Library’s Montana Room
Provide links to online research resources on a dedicated Unseen Missoula website, or Missoula X heritage website
Encourage the collection of oral histories as part of X heritage events
64 Historica l R esea rch A ssociates PART 3: RECOMMENDATIONS
RECOMMENDED IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Short-Term Mid-Term Long-Term ACTION 2020–2023 2023–2026 2026–2030
Actions Related to Additional Interpretive Elements
Mobile Apps
Assess the digital presence of Downtown Missoula heritage and ensure that adequate resources are X available, and that mobile app presence supports the goals of the heritage interpretive plan
Revise or replace existing mobile app tours to X coordinate with stops along the proposed heritage trail
Digital Kiosks
Consider the feasibility of installing digital X information kiosks at prominent downtown locations
Actions Related to Collaboration
University of Montana Partnerships
Collaborate with University of Montana faculty to offer field school opportunities for students. Develop X additional internship opportunities related to specific courses of study
Collaborate with Art Department faculty to encourage arts, programming, and events related to Missoula X heritage
Partner with the Admissions Office to offer downtown X heritage tours to prospective students
Missoula Downtown Heritage | Interpretive Plan | DRAFT Nov 2019 65 RECOMMENDED IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Short-Term Mid-Term Long-Term ACTION 2020–2023 2023–2026 2026–2030
Actions Related to Collaboration
University of Montana Partnerships (con’d)
Reach out to other academic departments (Education, Geography, Native American Studies, X etc.) to identify ways to build partnerships
Tribal Cultural Entities and the Native American Community
Collaborate with the Selis Qlispe Culture Committee when developing interpretation related to Salish and X Pend d’Oreille history and culture
Collaborate with Missoula County Public Schools Indian Education Department to host community X programming and events
Collaborate with the American Indian Student Services and Kyiyo: Native American Student X Association to provide opportunities for these organizations to host programming and events
Partner with Missoula Urban Indian Health Center X (MUIHC) on exhibits and events
Media
Develop relationships with media outlets to promote Downtown Missoula heritage and to utilize available X resources
Promote local heritage stories produced by commercial media, such local television networks X and The Missoulian
66 Historica l R esea rch A ssociates PART 3: RECOMMENDATIONS
RECOMMENDED IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Short-Term Mid-Term Long-Term ACTION 2020–2023 2023–2026 2026–2030
Actions Related to Educators and Youth Outreach
Age Specific Programming
Offer special Unseen Missoula activities and tours to X summer camps
Develop a Junior Ranger-style activity book X
Develop a Missoula Public Art scavenger hunt targeted X at families
Create Unseen Missoula geocaching collections X featuring a variety of heritage sites.
Develop Unseen Missoula Educator Materials
Prepare an Unseen Missoula resource guide for X teachers.
Create an advisory group of educators who already teach Downtown Missoula heritage topics and downtown heritage interpretation practitioners can X consult with regarding development of new curriculum materials
Integrate state and national curriculum standards into X new materials
Work with educators to develop lesson plans and other X curriculum-related materials
Missoula Downtown Heritage | Interpretive Plan | DRAFT Nov 2019 67 RECOMMENDED IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Short-Term Mid-Term Long-Term ACTION 2020–2023 2023–2026 2026–2030
Actions Related to General Outreach and Marketing
Local and Regional Outreach
Work with community organizations to promote new temporary exhibits, programming, and other special X events
Partner with local schools and cultural organizations X
Work with the Montana Historical Society to develop outreach strategies to market program offerings to X heritage tourists elsewhere in Montana
Identify and collaborate with cultural institutions that X interpret Missoula Heritage
Develop special programming for events, host rotating exhibits, and offer a variety of interpretive tours to ensure that heritage program offerings X remain relevant to their local audience while adding value to the visitor experience
68 Historica l R esea rch A ssociates PART 3: RECOMMENDATIONS
The Unseen Missoula Pop-up Museum in the basement of the Hammond Arcade building. Credit: Athena Photography
Summary way to encourage audiences to make personal and emotional connections to Downtown Downtown Missoula is a community with a Missoula. Developing focused programming, rich heritage, and it is a place defined by the enhancing partnerships, and encouraging intersection of natural and cultural landscapes. scholarship, will all contribute to downtown While Downtown Missoula’s heritage is tied heritage interpretation that adds value to the to national and international events, the city’s overall downtown experience, while fostering unique attributes are many. Certainly, Missoula civic pride. It is the hope of HRA and the is full of big stories, but it is the lesser known Interpretive Planning Advisory Group that the stories that allow audiences to relate to this comprehensive interpretive program presented place and connect with its heritage. in this plan will allow Missoula’s heritage It is the intention of the interpretive plan to remain an essential part of Downtown to identify opportunities to communicate Missoula’s identity as the downtown continues Missoula’s stories and collective heritage in a to evolve and prosper.
Missoula Downtown Heritage | Interpretive Plan | DRAFT Nov 2019 69 PART 4 PLANNING RESOURCES
The recently restored Florence Building lobby allows visitors to experience the look and feel of another era in Missoula history. Credit: HRA PART 4: PLANNING RESOURCES
HRA’s Interpretive Acknowledgements
Planning Team The Missoula Downtown Heritage Interpretive James Grant, MA, CIP, Historical Research Planning Team would like to extend its gratitude Associates, Inc. to the Montana Department of Commerce for supporting this project and all of the individuals Morgen Young, MA, CIP, Historical Research and organizations who took the time to speak to Associates, Inc. us. Thank you to the Board of Directors of the Kayla Blackman, MA, Historical Research Missoula Downtown Foundation who personally Associates, Inc. supported this effort every step of the way. And Eldon Potter, Bryan Potter Design a special thanks to the volunteers who served on the interpretive planning advisory group for their work guiding this effort throughout the process. Interpretive Planning Advisory Group Glossary Alan Newell, Missoula Downtown Foundation Implementation Plan: Divides the Tom Benson, Arts Missoula recommended actions in the interpretive plan Emy Scherrer, City of Missoula into achievable short-, mid-, and long-term steps. Jolene Brink, Missoula Historic Preservation Interpretation: Defined by the National Commission Association for Interpretation as “a mission- Linda McCarthy, Downtown Missoula based communication process that forges Partnership emotional and intellectual connections between Barb Neilan, Destination Missoula the interests of the audience and the meanings inherent in the resource.” Robert Giblin, Downtown Missoula Partnership Interpretive Plan: A document that defines Courtney LeBlanc, Missoula Public Art the overall vision and long-term interpretive Committee goals of a historic site. Kyle Volk, University of Montana Interpretive Planning Process: According Kalina Wickham, Downtown Missoula to the National Park Service, the process helps Partnership historic sites “consider ideas, makes choices, and set priorities about interpretation and education Matt Lautzenheiser, Historical Museum at Fort programming; it provides guidance to staff by Missoula clarifying objectives, identifying audiences, Kristjana Eyjólfsson, Historical Museum at and recommending the best mix of media and Fort Missoula personal services to use to convey themes.”
Missoula Downtown Heritage | Interpretive Plan | DRAFT Nov 2019 71 Select Interpretation Select Topical Resources Resources
Larsen, David L. Meaningful Interpretation: Non-Fiction How to Connect Heart and Minds to Places, Objects, and Other Resources. Second Edition. Fort Arlee, Johnny, Robert Bigart, Pete Beaverhead, Washington, PA: Eastern National, 2011. Rex C. Haight, and Tony Sandoval. Over a Century of Moving to the Drum: Salish Indian National Park Service. Comprehensive Interpretive Celebrations on the Flathead Indian Reservation. Planning. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Pablo, MT: Salish Kootenai College Press, 1998. the Interior, National Park Service, Fall 2000. Bobbitt, Mary. “The Historical and Cultural National Park Service. “The Secretary of the landscape of the Missoula Valley During the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of 19th and 20th Centuries.” 2015. Graduate Historic Properties and Guidelines for the Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Treatment of Cultural Landscapes.” Accessed Papers. 4541. January 4, 2017. https://www.nps.gov/tps/ standards/four-treatments/landscape-guidelines/ Brooks, David. Restoring the Shining Waters: index.htm. Superfund Success at Milltown, Montana. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2015. Rose, Julia. Interpreting Difficult History at Museums and Historic Sites. New York: Rowman Chacon, H. Rafael. The Original Man: the Life & Littlefield, 2016. and Work of Montana Architect A.J. Gibson. Missoula: University of Montana Press, 2008. Tilden, Freeman. Interpreting Our Heritage. Fourth Edition. Bruce Craig, editor. Chapel Christgau, John. Enemies: World War II Alien Hill: The University of North Carolina Press, Internment. Lincoln: University of Nebraska 2007. Press, 2009.
U.S. Department of Arts and Culture. Cohen, Stan, and Donald C. Miller. The Big “Honor Native Land: A Guide and Call to Burn: the Northwest’s Forest Fire of 1910. Missoula, Acknowledgement. Accessed September 12, MT: Pictorial Histories Pub. Co., 1978. 2019. https://usdac.us/nativeland. Gordon, Greg. When Money Grew on Trees: A.B. Hammond and the Age of the Timber Baron. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 2014.
Jones, Tate. Fort Missoula. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2013.
72 Historica l R esea rch A ssociates PART 4: PLANNING RESOURCES
Kemmis, Daniel. The Good City and the Good Life: Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. The Renewing the American Community. Boston, MA: Salish People and the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Houghton Mifflin, 1995. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2008.
Koelbel, Lenora, and Stan Cohen. Missoula the Savitt, Todd L., and Janice Williams. “Sisters’ Way It Was: a Portrait of an Early Western Town. Hospital: The Sisters of Providence and St. Missoula, MT: Pictorial Histories Pub. Co., Patrick Hospital, Missoula, Montana, 1873- 2004. 1890.” Montana: The Magazine of Western History 53, no. 1 (2003): 28–43. Landau, Elaine, and Ben Klaffke.Smokejumpers . Brookfield, CT: Millbrook Press, 2002. Smith, Minie. The Missoula Mercantile: the Store That Ran an Empire. Charleston, SC: The The Missoulian. Missoula Memories. Missoula, History Press, 2012. MT: Pediment Publishing, 2016. Space, Ralph S. The Lolo Trail. Missoula, MT: MacDonald, Douglas H. Montana before History: Historic Montana Publishing, 2001. 11,000 Years of Hunter-Gatherers in the Rockies and Great Plains. Missoula, MT: n.p., 2012. Stone-Manning, Tracy, and Emily Miller, eds. The River We Carry With Us: Two Centuries of Maechling, Philip, and Stan Cohen. Missoula. Writing from the Clark Fork Basin. Livingston, Charleston, SC: Arcadia Pub., 2010. MT: Clark City Press, 2002. Malone, Michael P., Richard B. Roeder, and Sundermann, Elizabeth “Libi”. “A ‘Temple William L. Lang. Montana: a History of Two of Pleasure’: Missoula’s WILMA Theatre.” Centuries. Seattle: University of Washington Montana: The Magazine of Western History 63, no. Press, 2001. 1 (2013): 56–63. Manning, Nikki M., and Kelly J. Dixon. Historic United States Department of the Interior, Underground Missoula. Charleston, SC: The National Park Service. “Register of Historic History Press, 2015. Places Nomination Form: Missoula Downtown Martin, Greg. “Hiding in Plain Sight: St Paul Historic District,” 2009. A.M.E. Church & Missoula’s Forgotten Black Van Valkenburg, Carol. “Axis Nation History.” Medium, November 13, 2018. https:// ‘Detainees’ and in the West during Japanese medium.com/@gregmartin_76328/hiding-in- Enemy Aliens World War II.” Montana: The plain-sight-st-paul-a-m-e-church-missoulas- Magazine of Western History 61, no. 1 (2011): forgotten-black-history-758993658a4a. 20–94. http://www.jstor.org.weblib.lib.umt. Mathews, Allan James. A Guide to Historic edu:8080/stable/23054776. Missoula. Helena: Montana Historical Society Press, 2002.
Salish-Pend d’Oreille Culture Committee and Elders Cultural Advisory Council,
Missoula Downtown Heritage | Interpretive Plan | DRAFT Nov 2019 73 Fiction
Blunt, Judy. Breaking Clean. Oxford: Isis, 2004.
Earling, Debra Magpie. Perma Red: New York: BlueHen Books, 2003.
Evans, Nicholas. The Smoke Jumper. n.p.: Sphere, 2007.
MacLean, Norman, and Ivan Doig. A River Runs through It. n.p.: High Bridge Company, 2006.
74 Historica l R esea rch A ssociates
125 Bank St #500 Missoula, MT 59802 Phone: (406) 721-1958 www.hrassoc.com