Road Trip around Montana – Charles M Bair Museum
 | Author:
Brenda Phillips
Brenda Phillips: MT43 News Office Administrator |
Road Trip around Montana – Charles M Bair Museum
Brenda Phillips
A little over an hour's drive from Townsend, near Martinsdale, MT, is the Charles Bair Museum. We made this drive out into the middle of Montana not knowing what a treasure we would find. (69 Miles 1 hour 10 minutes.)
This ranch has been preserved by the Charles Bair Family Trust in an effort to share local history and the art collections of the Bair family, which was prominent in Montana’s history. The home has been preserved with all the contents that were collected by the Bair family on their many trips to the East Coast and Europe. Replicas of the original artwork are in the home to hold the place of the original pieces that have been moved to the climate-controlled galleries that are on the property.
There are 5 climate-controlled art Galleries that display & preserve the many original pieces of art from Charles M. Russell and many other artists, along with Indian Artifacts that were collected by the Bair family. Besides the works of art, you will see their collections of silver settings, china dishes, some firearms, ornate chandeliers, furniture, vintage clothing, and the ornate workmanship in their home.
Very knowledgeable tour guides take you on a tour of the grounds and tell you the history and stories of this family. The history of this sheep ranch family is very interesting. The house was modernized to include a bathroom that is gold-plated. Many lavish parties were hosted by the Bair family - unlike any seen on the early Montana frontier. There were so many things to see and it is hard to even try to describe the scope of this extensive collection. There is something of interest to everyone who visits. Well worth the drive.
The hours for the Museum are: Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day: 7 days a week 11-5
Fall hours: Labor Day through October: Wed-Sun 11-5
The Month of September is Upstairs/Downstairs month. It is a special treat to see the upper floor which is only open during guided tours in September. A little extra bonus history is at the top of those stairs!
We had a great lunch at the Mint Bar in Martinsdale and continued our trip around through White Sulphur Springs to see the Castle Museum.
That is a story for another day – stay tuned!
Brenda and Kurt Phillips are from Townsend and enjoy visiting Montana's scenic and historic sites. Written by Brenda Phillips
Article Images
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PhotoCredit: Photo Credits: Brenda Phillips
Image 1 Caption: Charles M Bair Family Museum
Photo Credits: Brenda Phillips
Image 2 Caption: One of the many guest rooms in the Bair home.
Photo Credits: Brenda Phillips
Image 3 Caption: Dinning table with silver & china collections.
Photo Credits: Brenda Phillips
Image 4 Caption: Fireplace in living area of Bair home.
Photo Credits: Brenda Phillips
Image 5 Caption: Gold wallpaper, mirror & fixtures in bathroom.
Photo Credits: Brenda Phillips
