Fort Missoula Brings History To Life With A New Display of Troubled Times

It’s taken 8 years, but one Montana museum is ready to open an important new exhibit that will finally tell the full story of World War 2 internment camps here in the Northern Rockies.

The Historical Museum at Fort Missoula announced this week it has completed the restoration of one of the main remaining barracks at the fort, which was for the “Alien Detention Center”, which housed hundreds of Japanese and Italian nationals during the war.

READ MORE: Missoula’s Role in WWII Internment 

“Far From Home: An Internee Experience at Fort Missoula” builds upon efforts in recent years to tell the very personal story of the camp between 1941 and 1944 and the lives of individuals and families that were affected.

     The barracks restoration was finished last year, saving a structure before it vanished.

Next Saturday, the museum will open the exhibit which features many “hands-on reproductions” of items the internees used, added to the existing gallery which which features many rare images and writings. It’s expected to draw visitors from across the country.

We’ve never seen unemployment so low in modern Montana

It’s hard to know where the economy is heading, but for right now at least, Montana has the third lowest unemployment in the country. Montana’s jobless rate remains unchanged over the past month at 2.7%, marking 46 months now that the indicator has been at, or below, 3.4%.

“With more Montanans working than ever before, we’re continuing our historic stretch of near record low unemployment and leading the nation with the third lowest rate.” –Governor Gianforte

Only North Dakota and South Dakota have a lower number.

Stay away from Montana rivers this weekend

With temperatures spiking again this weekend, Montana’s rivers and streams are expected to rise, and keep running very fast and cold into next week.

That has rescuers concerned that people might take the risk, thinking it’s time to go swimming and ignore the danger.

READ MORE: These River Safety Tips Could Save Your Life

      🌊 Claire Seibold is with Missoula County Search and Rescue and talked with Chris Wolfe about the hazards. 

More patrols, for your own Montana safety this weekend

Law enforcement agencies across the state are sending out messages today, warning drivers that patrol officers will be on alert all weekend long to catch drunk drivers, reckless drivers, and others in an effort to keep people safe.

That’s expected to include increased patrols, starting Friday and continuing through Memorial Day.

     🚑 This three-day weekend tends to be one of the worst of the year, as people venture out after a long winter, and it starts what is known as the “100 deadliest days,” lasting through the summer.

Montana Friday Fact:

This seems hard to fathom, but the Montana Department of Transportation says the Treasure State has 73,567 miles of roads for TOTAL public travel, with 12,927 miles marked as official highways.