HELENA, Mont. — After years of planning and construction, the Montana Heritage Center is on track to open its long-awaited exhibits in November 2025, offering visitors a fresh and interactive look into the state’s vast and storied past. The center, which will serve as the new home of the Montana Historical Society, is poised to become a cultural cornerstone in Helena and a gateway for exploring Montana’s diverse heritage.

The $60 million redevelopment project began in fall 2020 and has gradually transformed the site into a 66,000-square-foot facility that includes more than 30,000 square feet of exhibit space. Construction is now focused on the final stages — moving in major historical artifacts and finalizing outdoor features such as native landscaping and a sovereign nations plaza.

“We are sharing stories through these amazing exhibits, but we are also inspiring people to explore our history, to engage with it and to have conversations about it,” said Molly Kruckenberg, director of the Montana Historical Society.

Some of the center’s most iconic pieces — including early 20th-century tractors, chuckwagons, and mining equipment — have already been placed in their new homes. These objects are integral to the immersive design of the exhibits, which combine historic artifacts with digital storytelling and hands-on interactive components.

“We will focus on our artifacts and items that tell our stories, but we will also use physical interactives, digital and media interactives to engage with people,” Kruckenberg said. “We use built environments for folks to step into to feel three-dimensionally.”

The exhibits are designed to take visitors on a journey through time, starting with Montana’s prehistoric era some 13,000 years ago and moving through pivotal moments in the state’s social, political, and cultural evolution. Key attractions will include a recreated mine shaft, a pioneer homestead experience, a Charles M. Russell art gallery, and a flexible rotating gallery that will feature traveling and temporary exhibits.

The Heritage Center is more than just a museum space. It will also include a café — with vendor proposals currently being accepted — and a gift shop offering Montana-made products and items connected to the exhibitions. These amenities are intended to make the center a welcoming and accessible destination for both locals and tourists.

“We are really excited to be opening the Heritage Center this year because this is the 160th anniversary of the founding of the Montana Historical Society,” Kruckenberg added.

The museum’s goal is to offer a deeper understanding of Montana’s identity — not just in its capital city, but across all regions and communities.

“We want people to understand Montana and who we are as a state, not just here in Helena, but who we are in the entire state,” said Kruckenberg.

In keeping with its mission to provide inclusive access to history, admission to the Montana Heritage Center will be free for all visitors.

The official ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for December 2, 2025, while the grand opening celebration will take place in June 2026 — allowing the public to explore the full range of exhibits and programming in time for the summer tourist season.

As the final touches are being applied, excitement is building across Helena and beyond for what promises to be one of the most significant cultural developments in the state in recent decades. With its combination of education, innovation, and community engagement, the Montana Heritage Center is set to honor the past while inspiring future generations.

Originally reported by Madelyn Heath in KTVH.