H A Publication of the Winter 2011 SocietyMontana Historical Society ST R “Chief Joseph” Sculpture: A Vision of History It is a vision that haunts Montana known as “Chief Joseph.” Hansen with a spirit that refused to be said Stockton posed the work in a abandoned. “style of recapitulation.” Kay Hansen covered many “It’s like when you go to sleep great Montana stories in her long and you remember things. That’s career as a journalist at seven what it represents,” she said. news papers across the state. She Chief Joseph and members of is now part of a fascinating saga his tribe, seeking refuge in Can- that brought a sculpture of Nez ada, eluded U.S. troops on an epic Perce Chief Joseph into the Mon- journey from the Oregon’s Wal- tana Historical Society’s collection lowa Valley to Montana’s Bear Paw in a strange, even mystical, series Mountains, where they were cap- of events. tured after a final tragic battle. This haunting sculpture of Grass Range shepherd and Stockton created “Chief Joseph” Chief Joseph has noted Montana artist Bill Stock- and sent it to a Billings art retailer a mystic history ton, who was born in 1921, was in the 1950s. Thieves later broke of its own. troubled by the fate that befell into the store and stole the sculp- American Indians with the loss ture along with two other Stock- County sheriffs were dragging the of their lands and the effects ton artworks. What happened river from a bridge that crosses it had on their culture and his- next could be seen as coincidence the Yellowstone River near Billings tory. He captured his feelings in or the spirit world taking a strange for a young Indian man who had a metal statue called From Where part in keeping the Nez Perce story jumped into the river allegedly to the Sun Now Stands, I Will Fight No alive. commit suicide,” Hansen said. More Forever, which is commonly “A year later, Yellowstone Sculpture (cont. on p. 6) Preserving Post-WWII Buildings It might make you feel a little old, “Understanding how these but buildings constructed in the properties represent the post– 1940s and 1950s—which seems World War Two era; their asso- like only yesterday to some— ciations with developments in are now eligible for listing in the urban planning, with Civil Rights National Register of Historic movements, or the Cold War; and Places. the technological developments The Montana Historical Soci- they embody is the key to appre- ety’s State Historic Preservation ciating and preserving them,” said Office has launched a major effort Society Community Preservation to make the public aware of the Coordinator Kate Hampton. Kate Hampton and Pete Brown show off need to save and restore what The United States experienced a new exhibit promoting preservation of they are calling “Montana Mod- its largest peacetime economic “Montana Modern” buildings and properties. ern” buildings and homes. Montana Modern (cont. on p. 4) 1 DIRECTOR’S CORNER New Artwork Added New Society Director to Capitol Collection Bruce Whittenberg Listens to the Heart and Soul of Montana To know where you are going, you With a strong connection to have to know where you’ve been. our peers and colleagues across There is a spirit in Montana this state through outreach efforts that is reflected throughout our and support for the humanities in “In the Shadow of the Sixth,” giclee print history and will most surely shape every corner of Montana, the Mon- by R. Tom Gilleon our future. The Montana Histori- tana Historical Society provides cal Society is the heart and soul of leadership in shaping Montana by Among its other responsibilities, that Montana spirit. Reflecting on telling the stories that have made the Montana Historical Society the key themes that have shaped this place great. In doing so, we loans artwork to be displayed in Montana’s past, we can find guid- create friendships that will allow designated State Capitol offices. ance and wisdom for the future. us to expand the scope and influ- Thanks to House Speaker Mike Consider the resilient spirit of the ence of our work. As the divide Milburn of Cascade, his wife Car- homesteaders, trappers, and min- between rural and urban seems to leen, and their constituent R. Tom ers; natural resources as an eco- be widening, our shared history Gilleon—who also happens to be and core values can lead us away a great artist—a limited edition from division and towards con- giclee print of five colorful tepees nectedness and shared vision. The circled majestically on the plains is power of collaboration knows no now part of that collection. bounds if we broaden our defini- Called “In the Shadow of the tion of collaborators and consider Sixth,” Gilleon said he wanted the potential of existing and new to experiment with the power of relationships. Collaboration, in “symmetry of design” that holds fact, is the single most important that five is more pleasing to the leadership skill for the twenty- eye than six. “I tried breaking the first century. rule by presenting six, as opposed As your new Director, it is to five, tepees. It turns out that an honor to lead such a highly the principle is quite true unless, regarded institution with incred- of course, you place one of the ibly talented and energetic people. group of five ‘In the Shadow of the I take very seriously our role as Sixth.’ ” the trustholder of Montana and The framed artwork hung in the New Society Director Bruce Whittenberg. a steward of Montana’s past, and Speaker’s office last session, and the responsibility of providing the Milburn and his wife worked with leadership to build relationships Gilleon to donate it to the Soci- nomic driver; the urbanization of among the many who share this ety’s permanent Capitol collection western Montana; the impact of passion while telling the stories for future Montanans to enjoy. the railroad; and the immigrants that provide lessons for shaping a who flocked to Montana to pur- bright and exciting future. sue their dreams. Consider tribal That is a big job and one we About Us The Society Star is published quarterly history and the preservation of can’t do without the help of our by the Montana Historical Society native cultures, rural agriculture friends. I hope you take some time and is a benefit of membership. heritage, the mystique of the to consider our annual appeal on ʈ Society Director: Montana landscape and its allure page seven. We thank you for all Bruce Whittenberg to Montanans and visitors alike, ʈ Membership Coordinator: you have done and all you will con- Rebecca Baumann 406-444-2918 and the authenticity of Montan- tinue to do for Montana history ʈ Editor: Tom Cook 406-444-1645 ans grounded in an adventurous and heritage. www.montanahistoricalsociety.org and independent spirit. 2 The Society Star: Winter 2011 ON THE ROAD TO MONTANA’S GREAT MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES Yellowstone Gateway Museum of Park County There’s a new face for the history and are now using it to design our winter, which was not possible of Park County with the comple- exhibits.” during its first thirty-four years of tion of a major renovation proj- Shea has long been a leading operation. ect for the Yellowstone Gateway figure in museum work in Mon- “Park County is proud of its her- Museum in Livingston. tana and has been a friend of the itage, and the support shown dur- Director Paul Shea and his staff Montana Historical Society staff. ing this project is reflected in the and volunteers recently completed The improved museum not only exciting new look of our museum,” a year-long project that not only includes new exhibits but also Shea said. “We hope you stop by involved a new energy efficient draws heavily on its extensive his- and see us.” heating-cooling system for the toric photograph collection to tell historic 1910 North Side School the story of the county. One of which houses the museum, they the striking new features is a new also inventoried their collection of Lewis and Clark exhibit that fea- more than 40,000 objects. tures a four-foot by six-foot fresco “We took the opportunity of of the expedition and three murals being closed to look at the way the of the Lewis and Clark journals. It museum was interpreting the his- focuses on the expedition’s route tory of Park County and how we from Bozeman to Springdale. could improve,” he said. “We have The new heating system allows put together an interpretive plan the museum to be open in the The Gateway Museum in Livingston has a new look. SOCIETY STAR PROFILE Sarah Nucci: Making Living History When Sarah Nucci was three her into history, and raised more than groups first in Civil War events mother taught her how to sew, and $5,000. She is planning other liv- and later the Revolutionary War, at age 13 she made her first histori- ing history events for the Society and worked as a re-enactor at cally accurate dress for a Civil War and has opened some new avenues Colonial Williamsburg before living history event that her dad to get people excited about their moving to Montana with her hus- took her to in Virginia where she history. band. “My family used to take me grew up. Nucci, 32, is a 2004 graduate every summer to the Battle of the Nucci has brought her skills of Mary Washington College in Crater re-enactment in Peters- as a seamstress and historical re- Fredericksburg, Va., with a degree burg.