Cover Photo: Cascade County Courthouse, Steve Wolff, 2017. The Statue of Justice looks out across the city of Great Falls, atop the Cascade County Courthouse’s newly repaired and resurfaced copper roof and dome. The two-year, $4 million project began in 2016. Photographer Steve Wolff generously donated the use of his photo for this report. See more at: http://www.stevewolffphoto.com/cascade-county-courthouse-restoral-.html Prepared in consultation with Montana by the: State Historic Preservation Office Montana Historical Society 1410 8th Avenue/P.O. Box 201202 Helena, MT 59620-1202 (406) 444-7715 (406) 444-2696 FAX www.montanahistoricalsociety.org/shpo Mark F. Baumler, Ph.D., Montana State Historic Preservation Officer Approved by the: National Park Service Preservation Planning Program Washington, D.C. Available on-line at: http://mhs.mt.gov/Shpo December 2017 OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR STATE OF MONTANA Steve Bullock Mike Cooney GOVERNOR LT. GOVERNOR July 26, 2016 Dear Montana Historical Society, Montana Preservationists, and all Montana Citizens: I am pleased to recognize 2016 as the 50th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. Under the National Historic Preservation Act, the federal government created an enduring partnership with state and local governments, and later sovereign tribal nations, to identify and maintain our historic places—safeguarding them from unnecessary harm. Through State Historic Preservation Office programs important national initiatives like the National Register of Historic Places, the Federal Rehabilitation Tax Credit, and the Certified Local Government community preservation program are administered at the state level for the benefit of all Montanans. I firmly believe that the preservation of our historic places, sites, and landscapes makes sense– culturally, educationally, and economically. The past fifty years have consistently demonstrated the value and importance of historic preservation in Montana, and the next fifty years hold the promise of even greater stewardship of our Montana heritage for future generations of Montanans to enjoy. As Governor of Montana, I am honored to support the National Historic Preservation Act and would like to thank the Montana Historical Society for their continued efforts recognizing and preserving Montana’s significant historic, archaeological and traditional cultural places. Here’s to the 50th Anniversary of National Historic Preservation Act and beyond. Sincerely, STEVE BULLOCK Governor STATE CAPITOL • P.O. BOX 200801 • HELENA, MONTANA 59620-0801 TELEPHONE: 406-444-3111 • FAX: 406-444-5529 • WEBSITE: WWW.MT.GOV TABLE OF CONTENTS Public Summary ................................................................................................................................ i I. Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 1 What is Historic Preservation? .......................................................................................... 1 Why Preserve? The Benefits of Historic Preservation ...................................................... 3 The Montana Historic Preservation Plan .......................................................................... 5 II. Development of the 2018-2022 Montana Historic Preservation Plan .............................................. 7 III. Montana Historic Preservation and Heritage Properties: An Overview and Assessment ................. 9 Montana Heritage Themes and Associated Resources ..................................................... 9 State of the State Inventory ............................................................................................ 26 Montana Historic Preservation Programs ....................................................................... 31 Success Stories ................................................................................................................ 38 Achievements: 2013-2017 Priorities and Recommended Activities ............................... 43 Resource Condition/Resources at Risk ........................................................................... 45 IV. Issues, Challenges and Opportunities in Montana Historic Preservation ...................................... 49 National Perspective ....................................................................................................... 49 Montana Perspectives .................................................................................................... 50 Preservation Challenge Highlight: Financial Resources for Historic Preservation .......... 57 Preservation Challenge Highlight: Montana Demographics ........................................... 58 Preservation challenge Highlight: Influencing Opinions About Historic vs. New ........... 60 V. A Vision for Montana Preservation 2008-2012: Goals, Objectives & Recommended Activities ...... 63 Vision ............................................................................................................................... 63 Montana Preservation Goals, Objectives & Strategic Activities 2018-2022 ................... 64 VI. Planning Cycle: 2018–2022 ........................................................................................................ 71 VII. Bibliography & Supporting Documents ...................................................................................... 73 Federal Preservation Law, Regulations and Guidance .................................................... 73 State Preservation Law, Regulations and Guidance ....................................................... 73 Supporting Studies .......................................................................................................... 74 Montana Heritage Properties and Context ..................................................................... 76 Historic Preservation Websites ....................................................................................... 79 Montana Heritage Partners ............................................................................................ 80 Appendix: 2017 Montana Preservation Questionnaire Summary ...................................................... 85 PUBLIC SUMMARY • Historic preservation is about keeping our important heritage places. Preservation benefits Montana – culturally, educationally, functionally, and economically. State Preservation Plans, prepared for Montana by the State Historic Preservation Office, serve as a guide for state and local preservation efforts by everyone. • This Plan PRESERVATION MONTANA: The Montana Historic Preservation Plan 2018-2022, is a continuation and update of previous state plans. It was developed from feedback, study reviews, and input from interested parties and stakeholders, including the public, history buffs, historic preservation professionals, government officials, tribal representatives, state and local preservation organizations, avocationalists, and educational specialists. • Montana has a rich and varied set of heritage properties that represent different themes in Montana history. Over 59,000 historic and precontact sites, buildings, structures, and districts have been identified and recorded in the state, and 1,170 of these have been listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Many more places are known or expected to exist as only about 6.0% of Montana has been inventoried for heritage properties to date. The landscape of historic preservation in Montana is also made of various federal, state, tribal and local preservation organizations. While there has been considerable success in preserving Montana’s important heritage places, a significant number of Montana's heritage properties are at risk due to such factors as commercial and resource development, urban sprawl, neglect, mismanagement, changing population needs, lack of understanding, and limited financial resources for preservation. • Old and new issues and challenges face Montana preservation over the next five years. These reflect national, state and local trends and perspectives. Feedback from 500 responses to a preservation questionnaire and a series of Montana preservation stakeholder interviews suggest common themes: lack of public understanding and awareness; limited survey and recording; need to assess property significance and integrity; need for base funding, legal protections and political support; importance of working together; and necessity to work outside the immediate preservation community. Highlight issues in Montana include finding ways to address the availability of necessary financial resources, dealing with our state’s demographics, and influencing opinions about historic vs. new. • The ongoing vision for historic preservation in our state is that Montana is a place that knows, respects, and celebrates its heritage, openly encouraging and supporting the preservation of its significant historic, precontact, and traditional cultural properties. Seven goals or steps to guide preservation over the next five years in achieving this vision are to: I. EDUCATE: Build a foundation for historic preservation through knowledge, information and training; II. CELEBRATE: Market preservation through outreach, recognition, praise and acknowledgement; III. LOCATE: Identify and document Montana’s historic, precontact, and traditional cultural places; IV. EVALUATE: Assess the significance and integrity of Montana’s heritage places; V. ADVOCATE: Seek and secure support of preservation