Conferences, Workshops, and Special Events

Thank you so much to everyone who attended the Montana History Conference, Sept. 25-27, 2025, in Helena. We had a blast hosting more than 400 lifelong learners at an outstanding array of workshops, tours, and lecture/panel sessions. We appreciate everyone who traveled near and far, wrangled with parking, and spent much time, effort, and money to join us. 

If you missed the conference, stay tuned. We'll soon post our session recordings on our YouTube Channel. And mark your calendars for the next conference to be held in Billings, Sept. 24-26, 2026 at the Hilton Doubletree. 

CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS 

Keynote speakers:

Our impressive line-up of keynote speakers included first-person interpreter Hasan Davis as York, the Corps of Discovery’s only Black member; Montana historian Kirby Lambert unveiling the new MTHS book, A History of Montana in 101 Places; Montana journalist and conservationist Todd Wilkinson and University of Montana professor emeritus Mark Fiege on Montana identity; and Piikuni elders Smokey and Darnell Rides at the Door on Blackfeet oral traditions. We also featured the compelling documentary, The Story of Us: Episode 3 by Crystal Alegria of the Extreme History Project and filmmaker Kimberly Hogberg about stories of three trailblazing Montana women: lawyer Ella Knowles Haskell, art dealer Nancy Cooper Russell, and rodeo queen Fannie Sperry Steele.

Tours:

Conference tour highlights included daylong trips to the Grant-Kohrs Ranch and Kohrs Mansion in Helena, as well as the ever-popular Made in Montana tour, featuring a Missouri River cruise through history and a bottom-to-top tour of the Holter Dam powerhouse. Other stellar tours visited Little Shell Tribe historic sites around Helena; a Black history sites around Helena; Jewish and Chinese cemetery tours; as well as afternoon tours to the Sieben Ranch, Charter Oak Mine, and the Western Clay Manufacturing/Archie Bray Foundation campus. 

Workshops: A host of workshops offered something for every lifelong learner. Opportunities included a day-long Indian Education for All workshop for educators, a living history workshop for museum and historic site professionals, as well as half-day cemetery preservation, historic preservation, and Blackfeet art and culture workshops.

LEARN MORE

Find many years of past conference programs and session recordings here.

Educator Workshops

Visit our Professional Development page to learn about upcoming educator workshops around the state.

Bring a Montana Teacher Leader to Your Community!

Take advantage of our extraordinary Teacher Leaders in History program. Eleven elementary and middle school teachers from across the state, who have received training on the Montana Historical Society resources and are versed in best practices for history education, are available to provide professional development. Looking for a presenter at your school? Learn more.