Research Center &

Visible Vault

Second Floor Remodel Project

This project seeks a wholistic approach to add environmental controls for fragile archival materials where there are currently none, to upgrade storage capacity in our special collections and archives, and to expand our education space.

Our Project Goals

  • Climate control for archives and artifacts storage

  • Restoring windowed wall in our historic building for a Visible Vault where guests can observe preservation work and conservation treatments

  • New windows on the Second Floor

  • ADA accessible bathroom

  • Archival shelving for special collections

Construction Update, March 2024

Construction on our Research Center & Visible Vault is underway! Much of the project so far has been demolition. The red wall (built in the 2000s) is now demolished to create our larger Research Center, and the covered-up windowed wall (we believe covered sometime during the energy crisis) is now exposed to make our Visible Vault! The first three images show the red wall demolition with the soon-to-be Visible Vault wall behind it. In the last photograph you can see the metal studs installed along the brick walls to begin to make our collections and archives storage spaces temperature controlled. We are excited for this long-needed improvement to keep our storage from freezing in winter and becoming sweltering hot in summer!

Construction Update, April 2024

April's construction saw drywall flying up on the walls as fast as work behind the walls could be completed! We were all surprised how quickly the drywall went up! The newly uncovered 1929 windowed wall has now been trimmed and primed and only awaits mudding and paint on the drywall and replacement glass for the few panes that had cracked decades ago. The last two photos show our storage space behind the windowed wall. The large panel is the display wall for our Visible Vault (we patiently dream up a display of artwork and historic business signs!) The very back wall in the last photo shows the fresh drywall and paint, a cost saving improvement from what was an entirely brick and cinder block warehouse wall that did not shelter us from winter and summer temperatures! Drywall is almost entirely complete! After the plumbing inspection is approved for the ADA bathroom, all of the second floor will wrap up for drywall and painting will continue.

Continuing Restoration Work

In the early 2000s, we restored windows in our Archives Reading Room. We will restore another section of covered windows in our building to create our Visible Vault!

LPW rendering of the space inside our Visible Vault

You can be part of this exciting project.

Mail donations via personal check to:
422 2nd St S, Great Falls, MT 59405

Make a donation online through our website:

Spread the word:

This project will help us continue our mission to preserve and share our unique history!