Downtown Missoula: Historical Self-Guided Tour of Montana's Heart

Explore Montana's second-largest city on this self-guided audio tour. Along the way, you'll hear about the colorful characters, architectural gems, and dramatic stories that shaped this mountain community's unique identity. Weave through Missoula's historic streets, exploring buildings like the elegant Florence Hotel and passing landmarks that showcase the city's evolution from railroad hub to automobile center. Learn about the contentious relationship between the city's founding father, C.P. Higgins, and his business rival, Andrew Hammond. Cross the Clark Fork River with views of Brennan's Wave, a man-made kayaking feature, and see the Spanish Mission Revival-style Milwaukee Road Depot. You'll also explore the “seedier” side of Missoula's history, including tales of notorious madams like Mary “Mother” Gleim, whose exploits included diamond smuggling and attempted murder. The tour ends at the historic Missoula Mercantile, now beautifully preserved as part of the Residence Inn.