Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The gift shop is excellent and includes a great selection of local jewelry, science-oriented
toys, art, books, and even candy.
Some argue that the admission fees are overpriced, particularly if you come when there
is no traveling exhibit, but on a rainy day in Bozeman, the museum can provide hours of
compelling exploration. Additionally, admission provides unlimited access for two consec-
utive days.
Downtown Bozeman
Historic downtown Bozeman is interesting architecturally and compelling culturally. It is
without a doubt the heart and soul of Bozeman, and more often than not it is the gathering
point for the town's most important events. Businesses have faced some stiff competition
from big-box stores on the perimeter of town, and there is significant turnover in retail
and restaurants, but local residents support downtown in meaningful ways, even starting
a petition campaign to fight to keep staple businesses, like the Owenhouse Ace Hard-
ware, on Main Street. A natural-gas explosion rocked downtown in March 2009, killing
one woman and destroying several businesses. Residents showed up in droves to sup-
port downtown business owners, workers, and residents alike. For a list of businesses and
a calendar of weekly, annual, and special events that really showcase Main Street, visit
Gallatin Pioneer Museum
Touted as the place “where history and Main Street meet,” the
Gallatin Pioneer Museum
(317 W. Main St., 406/522-8122,
www.pioneermuseum.org
,
10am-5pm Mon.-Sat. Memori-
al Day-Labor Day, 11am-4pm Tues.-Sat. Labor Day-Memorial Day, $5 adults, free for chil-
dren under 13, school groups, and researchers) is operated by the Gallatin Historical Soci-
ety in Bozeman's 1911 county jail building. The museum shared space with the prisoners
1979-1982 before the current jail was completed. The Pioneer Museum boasts a compre-
hensive permanent collection of items that reflect Bozeman's early history, including an au-
thentic 1870s homesteader's cabin, an agricultural room, substantial historical photographs,
and a sheriff's room that houses plenty of artifacts and exhibits related to crime and punish-
ment in the Old West. The Silsby Fire Engine, a top-of-the-line engine when it was manu-
factured in the late 1800s, is a new and favorite exhibit for kids. With no funding from state
or local taxes, the museum took a hit with the economic downturn in 2008 and had to raise
admission rates. They offer weekly lectures, free with admission, throughout the summer.
