The Montana Historical Society (MTHS) announced today that its $60 million fundraising campaign for the Montana Heritage Center has been successfully completed, thanks to a final $165,000 gift from the Oakland Family Foundation of Great Falls. The state-of-the-art facility is scheduled to open to the public on December 3 with free admission.
After MTHS reported in July that it had raised $59 million of the $60 million goal, a public appeal for the final $1 million drew widespread support from Montanans and donors beyond the state. The campaign concluded when the Oakland Family Foundation stepped forward with the closing gift.
“The Montana Heritage Center represents the culmination of a 20-year vision to give Montana’s extraordinary stories the home they deserve,” said Molly Kruckenberg, director of the Montana Historical Society. “Reaching this milestone is a testament to the more than 1,300 donors from around the world who believe in preserving and sharing our state’s rich heritage. We are deeply grateful to the Oakland Family Foundation for helping us cross the finish line, and we cannot wait to welcome the public to explore these new exhibits.”
The Oakland Family Foundation, which supports educational programs across Montana, described the contribution as an investment in the state’s future.
“Montana’s history belongs to all of us, and ensuring that future generations can learn from and be inspired by these stories is essential,” said Ashley Whitney of the Oakland Family Foundation. “We are honored to play a part in bringing this transformational project to completion.”
The $107 million Montana Heritage Center project was funded through a combination of private donations, state funds, and earlier appropriations:
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$60 million in private donations and grants – Contributions came from more than 1,300 individuals, foundations, and corporations, including the Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation ($25 million), Norm Asbjornson ($10.4 million), and BNSF Railway ($5 million).
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$41 million in state funds – Largely sourced from Montana’s Lodging Facility Use Tax, collected from visitors staying in hotels and other lodging facilities.
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$5.5 million from 2007 state bonds – Supporting initial site planning and preparation work.
No property tax dollars were used to fund the facility or its exhibits.
The Heritage Center will feature three museum galleries, a library and archives research center, a café, a gift shop, an interpretive trail, and rentable event spaces. Visitors will explore Montana’s history through interactive multimedia exhibits designed to engage audiences of all ages.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony and press conference will be held on December 2 at 3:00 p.m., featuring remarks from Governor Greg Gianforte, major donors Dennis Washington and Norm Asbjornson, MTHS Director Molly Kruckenberg, and MTHS Board President Tim Fox. The event is free and open to the public.