Deer-Lodge-Museums

Deer Lodge, Montana is home to a large number of museums and other places to visit. On the following pages you will find pictures of the Museum complex, located on both sides of Main Street, south of the one and only set of traffic lights in Deer Lodge. The most obvious building is the Old Montana Prison, which lost its prisoners in the late 1970's. When you go into the main entrance, to your left is the Montana Auto Museum, home to a wonderful collection of over 100 vintage cars and other vehicles. Just to the south stands 'Little Joe', engine E70 of the Milwaukee Road. This electric locomotive was moved here after it finished service on the railroad that used to run through town. Cottonwood City, on the opposite side of the street, has a wonderful collection of wooden cabins and other old buildings, some of which were rescued and moved here from other locations across Montana. A fully functioning Blacksmith shop, a school house, Post Office, a jail and a brothel are just some of the interesting structures to be found here. Next door is the Frontier Montana Museum, which has a very large collection of handguns, cowboy accessories and Western memorabilia, together with 'Desert Johns Saloon Bar'. Next is the Powell County Historical Museum, home to another impressive collection of weapons and other artifacts associated with this region of the West. Also, in the midst of this complex, is the Prospectors Playground where you can pan for gold, sapphires and other gems. Next door is the Montana State Prison Hobby Store, where you can buy arts and crafts made by inmates at the prison that is located 5 miles west of here. Yesterdays Playthings, a museum dedicated the child in all of us, has Dolls, Teddy Bears and other Toys, the collection of Harriet Free. Next to this museum is the Picnic Area, a very pleasant landscaped garden complete with a fine wooden Carriage House. All together this impressive collection of museums, buildings and artifacts makes for a fascinating way to spend a few hours or even a whole day, exploring the history of the Wild West. For more information and opening times, please visit the Powell County Museum website by clicking on their logo below.