Image credit: Perry Backus - Ravalli Republic A new chapter is set to begin soon at Fort Owen State Park. On July 1, the gates will officially open to one of Montana’s smallest state parks that preserves a place with a long and storied past. For the first time since the state took ownership in 1937 from the Stevensville Historical Society, visitors will have more than a couple of parking places to choose from. Those who chose to make the trip will travel on a brand-new asphalt road …
Fort Owen is expanding!
Good News Everyone. The Parks and Recreation Board today approved the acquisition of .9 acres of land to be acquired from the Fort Owen Ranch for the purpose of developing a parking lot to improve public access and use of the Park. They also approved State Parks moving forward with the environmental analysis process to decide on a site plan for this new land to include a parking area, turnaround, fencing, and pedestrian walkway from the new parking area to the park. Thanks go out to State Parks, …
Volunteer Work Day
Thank you to Montana State Parks and all the volunteers who helped us put a shine on Fort Owen yesterday. Our annual meeting and work day was a lot of fun and we got some work done too! Plus State Parks brought over some real artifacts that had been recovered during one of the last archaeological investigations. We helped clean some of the cool stuff that tells the human story of this historically significant place. Exciting things happening at the park. The barracks will get a new roof this …
John Owen’s 202nd Birthday
Today, June 27th would be John Owen’s 202nd birthday. November 5, 1850: “This is to certify that I, P.J. Joset, Catholic Missionary, of the first part, have bargained and sold all the property at St. Mary’s Mission Flathead Country known as the Church improvement unto Jno [John] Owen, of the second part, for the Sum of Two Hundred and Fifty Dollars ($250.00), the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged.”This is an excerpt from the first written property sale in Montana. A portion of this …
Raise the Roof!
Help us "Raise the Roof"!! The Friends of Fort Owen is partnering with Montana State Parks to replace the deteriorating roof on the East Barracks which was John and Nancy Owen's living quarters when they operated the Fort as a Trading Post 1860's - 1870s. It's long overdue! We are joining forces with Stevensville Civic Club, Main Street, Historic St. Mary's Mission, and Stevensville Historical Museum to solicit grant funding and whatever donations we can find to help State Parks do this …
Work Day – 2019
Come Join the Friends of Fort Owen for a project work day at Fort Owen State Park on Saturday, September 28nd, from 10am to 12pm. We need your help to protect and preserve one of Montana’s important historic places! Celebrate this National Public Lands Day by staining, painting and cleaning Fort Owen State Park. Volunteers will get hands-on experience preserving historic structures on public lands and learn how much effort it takes to maintain our history. This event starts at 10am sharp …