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​Ten years of preserving history
By Sharon Lamar, Upper Swan Valley Historical Society
​Pathfinder, August 18, 2022

Northern Pacific Railroad's influence on the Upper Swan Valley - Part II
By Sharon and Steve Lamar, Upper Swan Valley Historical Society
​Pathfinder, March 17, 2022

Northern Pacific Railroad's influence on the Upper Swan Valley - Part I
By Sharon and Steve Lamar, Upper Swan Valley Historical Society
Pathfinder, March 10, 2022

A Historical Journey through Bob Marshall Country
By Steve Lamar, Upper Swan Valley Historical Society
Pathfinder, October 21, 2021

The Hollands: The first upper Swan Valley homesteaders
By Sharon Lamar, Upper Swan Valley Historical Society
Pathfinder, May 6, 2021

​Letters from a Swan Valley Homesteader - Part II
By Steve and Sharon Lamar, Upper Swan Valley Historical Society
Pathfinder, November 26, 2020

Letters from a Swan Valley Homesteader - Part I
By Steve and Sharon Lamar, Upper Swan Valley Historical Society
​Pathfinder, November 19, 2020

​Pinchot's trip to Montana
By Betty Vanderwielen, Pathfinder, August 20, 2020

​Reminiscence of hiring a camp cook
​By Dwayne Forder, Pathfinder, August 6, 2020

Hope for better days ahead
​By the Upper Swan Valley Historical Society
Pathfinder, June 25, 2020

​​Wood magic: Swan Valley artisan's home, furnishings made history
By Kim Briggeman, Missoulian, May 16, 2020

History Foundation awards USVHS grant
​​Pathfinder, April 2, 2020

Christmas present rooted in Christmas past
​By Sharon Lamar, Upper Swan Valley Historical Society
Pathfinder, December 26, 2019

Bob Marshall's epic trip of 1928: The final two days
​By Steve Lamar, Upper Swan Valley Historical Society
Pathfinder, July 4, 2019

​Snowshoe trip at 40 below zero
By Sharon Lamar, Upper Swan Valley Historical Society
 Pathfinder, December 27, 2018

Celebrating 100 Years of Swan Valley Schools: 1918-2018
​By the Upper Swan Valley Historical Society
Pathfinder, ​July 26, 2018

​New Beginnings - Part 2 of 2
By the Upper Swan Valley Historical Society
Pathfinder, February 22, 2018

New Beginnings - Part 1 of 2
By the Upper Swan Valley Historical Society
Pathfinder, February 15, 2018

​Swan Valley Students Contribute to Next Exit History App
By Betty Vanderwielen, Pathfinder, October 19, 2017

Swan Valley Historical Society Museum History in the Upper Swan Valley
By Katie LeBlanc, Bigfork Beagle, October 23, 2017

Winters Were Long and Often Bitterly Cold
From Gene Miller’s Memoirs, My Growing up Years in the Swan Valley, 1939-49. Printed with permission from Gene Miller, Upper Swan Valley Historical Society Pathfinder, February 16, 2017

A 1905 Horseback Ride to the Top of the Kootenai Mountains
Pathfinder, September 22, 2016

Pinchot Journal: To Ovando and Kalispell by Stage and Steamship
Pathfinder, July 14, 2016

Pinchot Journal: Disappointment at Skunk Prairie
Pathfinder, June 20, 2016

Pinchot Journal: Wearing a flour sack to shoot a bear
Pathfinder, May 26, 2016

Pinchot Journal: A Meal of Biscuits and Venison
Pathfinder, May 12, 2016

Pinchot Journal: Sleeping under a Spruce with One Blanket to Share
Pathfinder, April 28, 2016

From Cross Cut Saws to Mechanized
​By Colleen Kesterson, April 28, 2016

Pinchot Journal: Great Larches and Yellow Pines
Pathfinder, April 21, 2016
​

​Gifford Pinchot Journal "Trip GP and Jack Monroe Up Swan River, June 1896" (Rewritten 4/20/1897)
Pathfinder 'A Place for All', April 7, 2016

Visitors Interview Steve and Kathy

Travelers can take a self-guided tour of the Swan Valley Museum, Swan River Tavern, Whalen Homestead Cabin, Smith Creek School replica and the portable sawmill on the Swan Valley museum grounds by downloading a free Explore MontanaTM app to access photos, audio, video and written descriptions. The self-guided tour is funded by Preserve Montana.

Search for Explore Montana on the App Store or Google Play and download.

Valley Bookkeeping & Tax Service
Martin J. Kux
​(406) 754-2529

Contact us if you require a hard copy of an archived newsletter.

In The News

Preserving and Promoting the Cultural Heritage of the Swan Valley.

1) Our organization and museum will be a welcoming place where people are drawn together to share their passion and interest in the history of the Swan Valley region of Western Montana.

2) Our organization and museum will focus primarily on the local history of the Swan Valley region for public benefit and enjoyment while maintaining connections to surrounding communities and Montana.

3) Our organization and museum will strive for sustainable facilities while retaining its traditional character.

4) Our organization and museum will create and maintain educational and research opportunities as well as exhibits pertaining to the history of the Swan Valley.

5) Our organization and museum will create permanent and enduring archives to preserve historical records and artifacts and, to the extent possible, make them available to the interested public.

6) Our organization and museum will strive to provide staff and a volunteer corps that is creative, enthusiastic, and supportive of each other, the mission, and the community.

7) Our organization and museum believes in, and will participate in, open strategic partnerships.

USVHS Board of Directors
Trina Arnold
​Katie Matthew Gleason
​Sharon Gressle
Helene Michael
Pat Sinz

Officers
Steve Lamar – President
Neil Meyer – Vice-President
Katharine (Cookie) Beers – Treasurer
Fern Kauffman – Secretary & Archivist

Directors At-Large
Horton B. “Tony” Koessler
Henry Pennypacker Jr.

Program Coordinator & Newsletter Editor
Anne Dahl

Digital Archivist
Jenny Kauffman
​
Website Editor
Susan Novosel

​Supporters
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About Us

Meyers Receive Montana Neighbor Award
Pathfinder, March 31, 2016

Neil and Dixie Meyer of the Swan Valley received the Montana Good Neighbor Award presented by the Governor's Office. The Meyers posing with Montana Governor Steve Bullock and their award.

On the Road to Montana's Great Museums and Galleries
Montana Historical Society's Society Star, Summer 2015