All of the displayed items were loaned or donated by pioneer families in our community. Additional donations of pioneer-era items in good condition are still being accepted.
One of the museum’s most prized possessions is a professionally-restored 1926 Model T Ford truck. In order to preserve it, the truck is stored off-premises, but pictures of it are displayed in the museum. The truck is entered each year in the Ronan Pioneer Days parade, and has won more than one first-place award.
The Sloan Flat Stage Stop is a wonderful old log house with dovetailed construction, which was lived in by many area families through the years. It houses most of the museum’s ranch-related items.
In 2002, Ronan’s Old Brick School was demolished and the museum acquired the fire escape, which is now attached to the Round Butte Gym. The museum’s “Little Red School House” is set up like an old-fashioned one-room school.
Mission Valley Heritage Association’s main focus is to maintain and improve the museum complex, to preserve buildings and memorabilia of by-gone days, and to make our corner of Ronan more attractive to all.
A visit to Garden of the Rockies Museum can be a trip down memory lane for older folks and an eye-opening appreciation of modern conveniences for younger ones. Either way, it’s worth the time to stop in and visit!
Address: 500 Round Butte Rd W Ronan, Montana 59864
Phone: (406) 676-5210
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