HELENA, Mont. — The Montana Heritage Center is moving closer to becoming a destination where history doesn’t just sit behind glass—it lives and breathes through immersive exhibits. From an interactive mineshaft to authentic tipis, the new center is shaping up to be a place where Montana’s diverse history can be experienced in vivid, tangible ways.
“There is nowhere else like a museum in this world where you can experience a story in a visually stunning moment in time,” said Jacob Franklin with the Montana Historical Society.
Franklin, one of the key exhibit fabricators, spends his days building cases, mounting artifacts, and carefully arranging artwork so that every detail connects visitors with Montana’s past.
“On one level, I simply do what I do because I love to create; on another level, I do what I do because we need to put forth a meaningful subject,” he explained.
The artifacts range from the small—a single arrowhead—to the massive, like a tractor or stagecoach, each carefully positioned to tell a larger story about the land and people who shaped Montana.
“Getting into the story helps me get into the artifact, and helps me present the artifact,” Franklin said.
Currently, much of the work is focused on the Homeland Gallery, where large-scale pieces are being installed with the help of lighting experts, audiovisual specialists, and museum fabricators from across the globe. The process, Franklin said, is inspiring.
“It’s goosebumps,” he said. “So I am glad we are finally at this stage.”
Beyond the Homeland exhibit, the new facility will also showcase the Charlie Russell Gallery, honoring one of Montana’s most iconic artists, and numerous other displays across nearly 30,000 square feet of exhibit space.
The Montana Heritage Center’s construction has been years in the making, with the exhibits representing the final stage before doors officially open. A ribbon-cutting is scheduled for December 2025, followed by a full grand opening celebration in June 2026.
Franklin hopes that when visitors walk out of the Heritage Center, they take something deeper with them.
“I hope visitors leave with a lasting connection with Montana because that is very important in what we do,” he said.
With immersive storytelling, powerful artifacts, and expansive galleries, the Montana Heritage Center is preparing to redefine how the state’s history is shared with future generations.
Originally reported by Madelyn Heath in KTVH.
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