Historical Society

Headwaters Heritage Museum

Headwaters Heritage Museum is open all summer long, and is one of those rare gems found only by those who get off the beaten path.  The museum, formerly the Three Valleys State Bank built in 1910 and now on the National Register of Historic Places, contains thousands of artifacts depicting the area's history. 

To highlight but a few exhibits…Montana’s largest brown trout (29.5 pounds), the museum’s mascot “Henslee the Beaver” and possibly the oldest American-made anvil in existence.  There are display cases of neighboring towns- Logan and Willow Creek- as well as artifacts of the now extinct Gallatin Cities and Trident. The history of Three Forks begins in Old Town, and this display case details its beginnings.

Upstairs, another excellent exhibit is 571 different types of barbed wire.  The offices formerly of doctors, dentists and attorneys are now scenes of earlier days. Three Forks was once a thriving railroad community, and the Milwaukee Railroad station agent's office displays a great assortment of memorabilia of those bygone days. The military room is full of mementos of the men and women of Three Forks who have served their country.

A treasure trove for genealogists and historians, there is an archive of historic photos of the area, obituaries, school yearbooks and a microfilm reader for a good sized collection of the local newspapers (Three Forks Herald, Three Forks News and the Pink Reporter).  The museum’s web-site, www.tfhistory.org, has collections of historic data and articles pertaining to the area’s history.

The gift shop holds a variety of books on topics of local history, the Lewis and Clark Expedition and fur trapper era, plus postcards, gifts and souvenirs.

The museum is owned and maintained by the Three Forks Area Historical Society and is open June 1 through September 30.  Hours are listed above.  No admission is charged, but donations are appreciated. For more information, call 406-285-4778.

Museum Hours

June 1-Sept 30

9a-5p (Sun-Fri)

(Off season by appointment only)

Railroad And Trident Heritage Center (Trident Depot)

A 100 year old Northern Pacific Railroad Depot from Trident was saved from demolition by the Three Forks Area Historical Society in 2011.  It was moved to John Q. Adams Milwaukee Railroad Park at the east entrance to Three Forks and placed near the orange Milwaukee Railroad Caboose.  Tour this 1939 gem as an additional exhibit of the Depot!

Renovation is complete for the Railroad and Trident Heritage Center that has preserved railroad history of Three Forks, and that of the former village of Trident.

Engraved bricks are still available and help fund the renovation project.  Brick order forms can be found online.  Google Trident Depot Defender, Depot Defender-Headwaters Heritage Museum, then Memorial Bricks…or email [email protected].

Depot Hours

June 1-Sept 30

9a-5p (Tues-Sat)

(Off season by appointment only)