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    Powell County Museum

    5.0 (1 review)

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    5 years ago

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    Old Montana Prison Complex - Peep hole into high security cell

    Old Montana Prison Complex

    4.7(47 reviews)
    0.1 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.

    Photos
    Montana Historical Society
    Montana Historical Society
    Montana Historical Society

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    Dumas Brothel - One of the upstairs rooms

    Dumas Brothel

    4.0(3 reviews)
    27.9 mi

    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.

    One of my favorite museums to visit in Montana, the Dumas Brothel is currently the longest running…read morebrothel in the U.S., and it has a unique history that speaks to Butte's history and the history of women's labor. Our guide, who owns the building with her husband, was friendly and super knowledgeable about history, the women who worked at the brothel, the brothel's founders, and the building's architecture. We learned that the brothel is built in the Victorian style, and it was constructed specifically to be a brothel. Many of the rooms contain relics from the past that you can check out, including clothing, makeup, bedding, furniture, and more. I know the owners are still working on restoring the place and it's looking great. My favorite part was either the upstairs, where you could see red lights and the Madame's room, or the basement, which was a bit harrowing and slightly haunted, in my humble opinion. It was really interesting to think about the circumstances surrounding women's labor in Butte, and how this line of work could have both empowering and difficult elements. In terms of Butte museums, this was the one I enjoyed most.

    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

    4.5(53 reviews)
    27.6 mi

    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.

    Great place to see the history of mining and also you got to go down into the mine.Also Ken is a…read morereally nice person to do the tour with.

    Photos
    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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    Powell County Museum - museums - Updated October 2026

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