Organization History

In 1976, the Cascade County Historical Society (CCHS) was incorporated as a private non-profit born from the historic focus of the nation’s Bicentennial. CCHS joined forces with the Center for the Arts in the effort to save the former Paris Gibson Junior High building. The building was leased from the Great Falls School District 1 and renamed Paris Gibson Square (PGS).

When the society moved into Paris Gibson Square in January 1977 there were 212 paid charter members.

By 1981, the first part-time paid director was hired and implemented a standard museum cataloging system. Over time other part-time staff were hired, grant requests were funded, and more professional standards for the care of the collections were established.

In 1987, space was designated for an archive, and a gift shop was started. The concept of rotating exhibits was introduced and regular monthly programs and workshops were added.

In September 1988 the first History Fair (renamed the Cottonwood Festival) was held on the lawn of PGS. The fair was established as an educational event designed to teach area residents about their heritage by bringing history alive for all ages.

CCHS purchased the former International Harvester Building on 2nd Street South in 1998, to unite the archives (at the Great Falls Public Library), the museum (at PGS), and object storage (which was at PGS, the Fairgrounds, and the former Columbus Hospital) under one roof.

The formal “Campaign to Celebrate Time,” a fund-raising effort for renovations of the new building, was launched during the book-signing party for the CCHS publication The Cascade County Album in June of 1999.

By spring of 2000 work began to prepare the new building for occupancy as the High Plains Heritage Center.

In 2007, the High Plains Heritage Center was renamed The History Museum (THM).In June the first “Night at the Ozark” Jazz concert was held to a packed house, becoming a yearly event.

Between 2009 and 2018, five documentaries were produced and shown on Montana PBS.

The many challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic were navigated, and a large renovation to the second floor were accomplished by 2024. The History Museum & Research Center continues to expand its programming, bring new exhibitions and research to the public, and preserve the shared history of North Central Montana.