National Register of Historic Places

Fort Missoula Historic District

Missoula, Missoula County, Montana
Listed
April 28, 1987
Type
District
Period
Early Republic
Ref No.
87000865

About this property

Fort Missoula was established by the United States Army in 1877 on land that is now part of the city of Missoula, Montana, to protect settlers in Western Montana from possible threats from the Native American Indians, such as the Nez Perce. Beginning in 1888, the fort was home to the famous Buffalo Soldiers of the 25th Infantry Regiment (3rd Formation). While stationed at Fort Missoula, this unit tested the practicality of soldiers traveling by bicycles by conducting numerous training rides, with one ride all the way to St. Louis, Missouri. The Trans-America Bicycle Trail established in 1976 goes through Missoula, and covers some of the routes pedaled by the 25th Regiment. During World War II, Fort Missoula housed an internment camp for Italian detainees, who called the area Bella Vista, and Japanese Americans arrested as "enemy aliens" after Pearl Harbor.

Location

Missoula, Missoula County, Montana
46.84385, -114.05386

Categories

COMMERCEPOLITICS/GOVERNMENTARCHITECTURESOCIAL HISTORY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Everything a full report reveals about Fort Missoula Historic District

This page lists Fort Missoula Historic District. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Nearby Historic Sites

Fort Missoula Historic District (Boundary Increase)
Early Republic
0.3 mi
Target Range Elementary School
Industrial
1.4 mi
Gibson, A. J., House
Industrial
1.6 mi
Missoula County Fairgrounds Historic District
Listed
1.8 mi
Maclay Bridge
Industrial
2.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Fort Missoula Historic District listed on the National Register?

Fort Missoula Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 28, 1987.

What type of historic resource is Fort Missoula Historic District?

Fort Missoula Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Fort Missoula Historic District?

The period of significance for Fort Missoula Historic District is recorded as the early_republic era.

Can I research the history near Fort Missoula Historic District?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Fort Missoula Historic District will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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