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Deer Lodge, MT

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Montana Auto Museum

4.9 (20 reviews)
Closed • 8:00 am - 6:00 pm

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M F.

This is a total surprise to be in the middle of no where and find an amazing museum like that... I was expecting to see a couple nice cars and some rust buckets in various stages of restoration.... I couldn't have been more wrong. What a fantastic museum... I would like to officially say that I am available for adoption if Sherman and Bonnie Anderson would like to have a new son!!! LOL... what an amazing collection.... The super bee was my favorite!!!

Old car camping photos
Jeffrey S.

What a surprise. We pulled off the freeway on our road trip just to stretch our legs and find a restroom, and ended up touring a car museum and a prison museum. Road trip magic. That is to say, if you didn't know this was here, you certainly wouldn't think, ya, Deer Lodge Montana probably has a massive car museum, I'll go there. We bought our tickets to the prison museum (which actually gets you into 5 museums) and they said to the right is the prison, and to the left is the car museum. After seeing the prison, we came back to the gift shop and followed a doorway and poof, there we were, in the midst of a bunch of really old and really cool autos. It started with the old school autos--the first of their kind--and then works its way through the years. By the time you get out the big warehouse-y space, you're deep into muscle car territory. Every car seemed to be in stellar condition. Everything is well maintained and the signage, though not glamorous, gives you context on the era, the specs, and in many cases early on, the original price. I'm not an auto aficionado so I can't say what they may have that was rare and special, but all of it was deeply fascinating and I especially loved the focus in one area on car camping. The old pop up was pretty awesome. We didn't have much time (road trip demands) but we took as much as possible in the auto museum and wished we had more.

Maxine P.

Wow, what a surprise!!! Who would have thought there would be a collection this large and diverse in this small Montana town of Deer Lodge. I have to admit I really don't know my car museums but my husband knows a little more about the subject and he was impressed with the amazing variety and rare cars on display. The first room started with the earliest car that looked like a converted wagon . There was room after room after room, it was like a time machine to a different time period in each room in the history of cars. There were vehicles I did not know were made. We saw cars that reminded us of our youth. If you are a car buff, even if you are not you will enjoy to trip through the history of the car. The entrance fee covers multiple museums on the Main Street including the Prison Museum.

Christopher H.

Deer Lodge, Montana, USA. Initially thought how good can an auto museum in the middle of nowhere be? Aside from my own prejudices & prejudgments venturing to many auto museums, auto events, etc., and being part of the auto industry for a decade... My bad~! This was a total hidden gem. The amount of oldies was insane. Never experienced an organized, clean, indoor, auto exhibit like this. Even if your not an auto enthusiast, and by all means, I am not one anymore, much can be appreciated & enjoyed with the effort & devotion the private curators (owners) engage with. However, the Montana Auto Museum is ethno-centric. American cars only. Access/Roads: A Paved. Parking: A Unless the town has stuff going on then parking will be an F. Distance: C Helena, Montana - 55 miles Boise, Idaho - 450 miles Salt Lake City, Utah - 500 miles. Los Angeles, California - 1,200 miles. Costs: A Paying $10 gets you into five museums marked below with an asterisk. Nearby Attractions: *Old Prison Museum. *Frontier Museum. Powell County Museum. Montana Police Memorial Territorial Antiques *Doll/Toy Museum Grant Kohrs Historic Ranch and *Cottonwood Mini-City. Travel safely. Picture gallery: https://www.facebook.com/SiRTurbo/media_set?set=a.10157282621877324&type=3 IG @cigarcpa cleeshyun.com

5 Star must stop
Tom B.

WOW I think this museum should be more publicized it's the biggest antique car collection I've ever seen I think there's close to 200 cars. The cost was $10 and it includes the prison and a few other museums. 5 Star must stop

Some older models
Katie F.

We were very surprised how good this museum was! We have been to other car museums in other states, and this one was surprisingly large! So many cars and well laid out - older cars to newer. Lots of information and history on some of the cars. This is a top visit in Montana - IF you are big into cars. I am not overly, but was still very impressed. Admission to museum is very reasonable. It was raining on the day we went, and the ceiling was dripping. Would be nice to see it repaired, but they did everything to protect the vehicles.

Nice Vair.
Dave T.

Really enjoyed the tour of the prison and the car museum - Bonnie and Sherm Anderson... adopt me please!

Kim K.

The most impressive and vast collection of cars in any one place I've ever seen in my life! And I've been to many car museums all over the country. I really expected the car museum to be an afterthought to the prison museum but I was totally wrong and pleasantly surprised. The collection of cars here ranges from the early 1900's to roughly the 1980's. As you continue on through the museum you expect it'll only be a few rooms worth of old Model T's. But it just keeps going! There is room after room after room of cars. Totally impressive. You could easily spend a whole day here between the prison and auto museums. The price of admission is well worth it. I highly recommend both!

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3 months ago

A great selection of American made cars and memorabilia. Admission gets you into 5 museums!

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3 years ago

Stopped in thinking I would see some cars but was amazed at how many cars were there. Beautiful cars from all years. well worth it.

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8 years ago

Deer lodge is a little town with a BIG auto collection. I am not "into" cars but thoroughly enjoyed the stroll through history.

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Review Highlights - Montana Auto Museum

“We started in the prison which was also very interesting and the enjoyment continued.”

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Old Montana Prison Complex - Peep hole into high security cell

Old Montana Prison Complex

4.7(47 reviews)
0.0 mi

My daughter has been begging to go on this ghost hunt ever since I went for my birthday two years…read moreago. After surviving the Lizzie Borden House and declaring that she was absolutely ready to take on the prison, my ghost-hunting mama heart couldn't wait to make it happen. So, for her birthday, we went ghost hunting! Addison and his team once again knocked it out of the park. My daughter couldn't stop laughing during his opening speech especially his demonstration of how NOT to use the equipment. He has such a great way of making everyone laugh and taking the edge off, which was especially nice for the people you could tell were a little nervous about what they were getting themselves into. I catch my daughter quoting " THERES GHOST EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!!" " No...... it's your phone!" And I bust out laughing. Unfortunately, I had gotten food poisoning and had to tap out before any of the real fun started. I was absolutely crushed. This was supposed to be our mother daughter ghost hunting adventure for her birthday, and instead I had to miss most of it. But she had the time of her life, and that's what mattered. She was chosen for the human pendulum experiment, and she STILL hasn't stopped talking about it. Then the activity started. This kid apparently became a walking ghost magnet the second I left! She came back with video after video of responses. Apps, dowsing rods, equipment! you name it, she was getting activity from it. One of the guides was so surprised by how much she was getting that she ended up spending quite a bit of time with her investigating it. Meanwhile, I'm sitting there thinking, "Of course this happens on the night I get food poisoning!" She had an absolute blast. And because I was so sick and missed out on our mother daughter experience, she has already decided that she wants us to come back and do it again for MY birthday. This will be my THIRD time paying to come back. If that doesn't tell you how awesome this experience is, I don't know what will. Addison and his team make this so much more than simply walking around an old prison looking for ghosts. They make it fun, interactive, memorable, and approachable even if you're a little nervous. We'll be back. Apparently the ghosts and my daughter have unfinished business and next time, I am NOT missing it!

The name says Prison Museum, but you are really visiting an extensive collection of automobiles…read more(and before they were automated), a prison used until 1961, a toy museum and art. Spread over four buildings (well, the prison is a lot of buildings) on both sides of the street. So it's more than an old prison. To begin with, the prison grounds are under going some repair work. Pathways are being repaired, stair ways closed off. There is a lot of walking outdoors to see the areas open to the public so be sure you are dressed for the weather. Cells in the new prison and women's prison are open including the 'hole' and other cells used for punishment. The guide book tells you about those. Dining room, job placement office, social services, visitor room, 'the tunnel', shower room and clinic are some of the sites you can see or enter. Signs around the property give information. The auto collection goes on and on. From horse drawn on thru the years it's quite the collection. Each vehicle has a bit of info. A small display shows the Yellowstone trail which states that was the first trans-continent roadway from Boston to Seattle. Never heard of that and now I want to know more. The museum has an annual fund raiser to support museum upkeep. Buying raffle tickets helps keep the doors open. This years raffle is a 1965 Mustang GT! Drawing is in December and tickets are a tenner each. Go get ya some. We arrived after lunch and did not have time to view the other two museum locations across the road. We did however have time to get some ice cream from the shop near the entrance before getting back on the road. Also, there is a little free library at the entrance where you can take one or leave one. We parked street side. Restrooms are off the gift shop. Deerlodge is a cute little town with a National Park on the other end that is well worth a visit as well. A very family friendly stop.

Photos
Old Montana Prison Complex - Human pendulum experiment

Human pendulum experiment

Old Montana Prison Complex - Medical clinic

Medical clinic

Old Montana Prison Complex - Park on street

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Park on street

Montana Historical Society

Montana Historical Society

4.8(6 reviews)
36.8 mi

After breakfast I was looking for things to pass the time to digest while also learning more about…read moreMontana and this museum fit the bill perfectly. This is located right across the Montana State Capitol building. The museum entrance fees are as followed: - $5 (adult) - $1 (children) - $12 (family: 2 adults and immediate children under 19) - free (members) Once you pay your fees you get a sticker and a receipt which you can actually use as admission for two days. You can go in and out during the day as well if you just keep your receipt. There are a good amount of exhibits here, including one about the history of children toys, history of bison and other wildlife in the area, the daily lives of Native Americans, and the journey of Lewis and Clark through Montana. Some of my favorites were reading and seeing clothing, weapons, tipis, and other artifacts that Native Americans used to live, trade, and hunt. You can actually go into a replica of a tipi and sit on one of the chairs like how they would. I also learned about the history of their interactions with Lewis and Clark as they made their way through Montana, including wars that broke out between them and resulted in whites taking over their land and pushing them out. There were also some exhibits about the different tribes in the state and where they lived then and now. This museum was very informative and is exactly what I am looking for when I want to learn about the history of wherever I'm visiting, especially for a small entrance fee. If you're in Helena and looking to learn more about the area I recommend coming here!

This was an excellent visit for our family. The center has a great collection of artifacts from…read moreMontana history. It is right across from the Capital building.

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Montana Historical Society
Montana Historical Society
Montana Historical Society

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Dumas Brothel - One of the upstairs rooms

Dumas Brothel

4.3(4 reviews)
28.0 mi

6 of us took a private tour during the day as 2 of the ladies in our group were afraid to go at…read morenight. The place is kinda creepy but thats the point. My sister got unknown scratches on her back. A few of us felt like we were being watched. My brothers hearing aids failed the whole tour but came on as we left the building. To appreciate this you need to know and understand the old west. I'd like to see more of the old houses in the town saved.

Disappointed!! Well, it does have a great story behind them but it stops there. At $15.00 per…read moreperson, pretty pricey. While I agree that it's always best to keep an old historical building in its original condition, preservation. Is important. But, the new owners took control In 2018, and they still have so many rooms still being used for storage. Very disorganized. It smells horrible and the damp floors were soft and in some places, it felt like the floorboards were going to collapse from under me. I'm actually surprised, the City hasn't condemned it yet. Interestingly, it was the longest running Brothel in the US.... 1890-1982 !! The downstairs area, as told, has been kept original, including booze bottles, curtains & cigarette butts. Rugs, wet walls & I'm sure the bedding is what is smelling. But.....by being on the Historical Records, it should not allow the extensive condition of this place. I don't know.., but, there has to be Reconstruction Grants available. I wouldn't pay that price for this condition of a museum. Very sad.

Photos
Dumas Brothel - This photo is copyrighted can not be used in any publications! I took this photo and got lucky when this beautiful classic car rolled by!

This photo is copyrighted can not be used in any publications! I took this photo and got lucky when this beautiful classic car rolled by!

Dumas Brothel
Dumas Brothel - One of the rooms containing clothing and other artifacts

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One of the rooms containing clothing and other artifacts

World Museum of Mining - Blacksmith shop

World Museum of Mining

4.6(54 reviews)
27.6 mi

The World Museum of Mining is a must-do when visiting Butte. The museum itself is interesting and…read morethere was a lot to see and learn about. However, the tour of the Orphan Girl mine in the property was by far the best part of the trip. Our tour guide, Ken, was excellent and the mine itself was fun to see.

We stopped in to Butte on our cross country drive and visited the mining museum after lunch in…read moretown. They offer military and other discounts on their entrance fee The gift shop area includes information on local, current mining operations as well as merch. This is an outdoor museum so dress for the weather. If you want to take the under ground tour be sure you are wearing closed toed shoes. (Crocs not included, I don't know why) They also have above ground tours. Part of the property is set up like a western town. Something that would grow up around a mine. Post office, apothecary, carpenter, blacksmith, etc, etc. All these buildings are set up with window displays but most are not open to the public. You just peer thru the windows. There is a memorial garden to miners. A mine yard with pieces of heavy equipment. The motorized lift, miners locker room, light room, information and equipment used in dry and wet boring, 3D representations of mines and more with information posted on the displays. You can walk up into the mine head if you are so inclined to see how the ore chutes operated. We spent about two hours here without realizing it. Very interesting museum. Staff are very personable, answered questions and suggested reading material for more on the subject. Very good, family friendly stop.

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World Museum of Mining - Good amount of parking in front of entrance

Good amount of parking in front of entrance

World Museum of Mining - Part of the display is set up like a western town of antiquity.

Part of the display is set up like a western town of antiquity.

World Museum of Mining

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Montana Auto Museum - museums - Updated November 2026

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