Archives & Research Center

The Archives is closed until further notice during construction of our Research Center & Visible Vault

Request Information

There is no charge for on-site users to conduct research. If you are unable to visit The History Museum Archives, we can conduct limited research for a fee.

Research by external request is on a pre-pay basis with a $20 minimum charge. This fee includes up to one hour of research time, up to 10 photocopies, and postage. Additional photocopies are $0.25 per page and research is $20 per hour. For in-depth research requests that would demand too much time of our limited staff, we will provide names of local researchers that are available for hire. There is no guarantee that information will be found. Please begin by using our contact form on this page.

Reproduction Services

The History Museum Archives can create photographic or digital reproductions of many items in our collections. A signed order form must accompany each request. Please review the following forms for more information: Application for Permission & Archives Order Form

Archives Policies

Please become familiar with our policies before visiting the Archives.

Archival material use is restricted to the Reading Room and is non-circulating. These materials require special handling and security. Patrons will be asked to sign in and leave belongings in a locker.

Records may be fragile and must not be marked, folded, written on top of, or leaned upon.

Please preserve any existing arrangement of materials. If they appear out of order, call this to the attention of staff.

There is no charge for on-site users to conduct research.

Food and beverages are not permitted in the reading room.

Patrons wishing to visit the archives must contact The History Museum prior to their visit.

Have materials to donate? Click here to learn about our donation process.

Archives Resources

Homestead Records

Over 7,000 original land patent holders recorded alphabetically by name and legal description; mapped by location.

Library

Local histories for Cascade County communities and surrounding areas, regional historical fiction and nonfiction, period reference books, textbooks, magazines, periodicals, and newsletters.

Separate Collections

Letters, diaries, and other unpublished materials from individuals, businesses, and organizations preserved for research purposes. Finding aids are available for most collections.

Building & Site Research

Survey of original town site of Great Falls, surveys and nominations of Lower North Side Historic District, Railroad Historic District and Fairground Historic District, plus renovation information. Blueprints, architectural drawings, and some house plans.

Bound City of Great Falls records on shelves

City of Great Falls & Cascade County Records

Civil and Criminal Court Records, Voter Registration, Land and Tax Records, Assessment, Business Licenses, Property Valuation, Sheriff Voter Registration, City scrapbooks 1939-1985, Resolutions, & more. City Records Book List

Directories

City and business directories from 1887 to present for Great Falls and some smaller towns in Cascade County. Some missing.

Maps

City, county, state, plat maps, blueprints, architectural drawings, mining and power lines; Sanborn Insurance maps for 1890, 1900 (with updates), 1929 (with updates) and 1956.

Naturalization Records

Declaration of Intention, Petition, and Citizenship papers for Cascade County residents from 1887 to 1966. For a modest fee we can provide you uncertified copies of naturalization records for genealogy research purposes only.

Newspapers

Bound copies of the Great Falls Tribune (1893-1953), the Great Falls Leader (1888-1961), and Belt Valley Times (1893-1977); some volumes missing. Various other local newspapers also available. *Bound newspapers can not be photocopied but may be photographed.

Oral Histories

Audio cassettes indexed by speaker name and subject. Transcriptions available for some oral histories.

Elk’s Convention in Great Falls, MT, circa 1900. Scene at Circle Park on Central Ave showing patriotic decorations and “Welcome” in big letters [2007.017.0852].

Photographs

Approximately 50,000 photographic images dating from the 1860s to the present are cataloged and organized by subject. Subject strengths include the Anaconda Mining Company refinery, the WWII era Seventh Ferrying group, and agriculture. Office copier reproductions of photographic images are available for use in the reading room. Approximately 3,000 images on electronic database. Digital photographic reproductions are available for a fee.

Vertical file drawers pulled out, Civil Defense files visible

Vertical Files

Extensive clippings, pamphlets, brochures, and ephemera organized by subject and name for Great Falls, Cascade County, and Montana. Includes files on significant national events and prominent local people.