©2004 Historic St. Mary's Mission, Inc. * All Rights Reserved
Web Site Design by S&J Enterprises
Last Update: 4/23/2012
Formed in 1988, Historic St. Mary’s, Inc., is a non-profit organization. The goal of the organization is to preserve, restore, maintain and promote the Mission Complex founded in 1841 by Jesuit priests under the leadership of Father Pierre Jean De Smet, S.J. The town of Stevensville and the State of Montana were formed from these early beginnings.
The Mission is administered by a seven member Board and operated by a Director. Volunteers serve as tour guides, grounds keepers, clerical workers and see to the operation of the gift shop.
The maintenance and operation of the Mission is reliant on donations, tour fees, gift shop sales and grants. Programs such as the $2 A Month Club also help support operating costs.
Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, St. Mary’s Mission is a cultural and historical icon of the early days of the American West. Historic St. Mary’s Mission, Inc., continually strives to strengthen ties with, and acknowledge its roots in Native American culture, while preserving the area’s delicate past for future generations.
For travelers and local visitors alike, the old Mission affords a look back to the State of Montana's earliest beginnings - the place where agriculture, medicine, education and religion were first introduced.
The Mission Complex is open for tours from April 15 through October 15, and the Visitor's Center, Gift Shop and Museum are open year around. Groups and school tours are always welcome.
The web site provides a "tour" for those unable to visit in person. Here you will find photos, the history of the Mission Complex, and discover the roles the Salish people, Fr. De Smet and Fr. Anthony Ravalli, S.J. played in its development.
Educators: Historic St. Mary's Mission provides an Indian Education instructional program for teachers and students. The program follows the state instructional guidelines. Additional information on the Indian Education For All program.
Historic St. Mary's Mission stands in the shadow of St. Mary's Peak in the Bitterroot Valley of Montana. Fr. Pierre De Smet, a Jesuit priest, founded the Mission in 1841. The State of Montana grew from those early beginnings of the settlement first called St. Mary’s and later named Stevensville. The town holds the distinct honor of being the place “Where Montana Began”. The well-preserved buildings and artifacts of the Mission Complex afford visitors a look back at the historical beginnings of the birth of the State and the settlement of the West.
In 2010 the Historic St. Mary's Mission complex was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This was the culmination of over four years of work by both local and state contributors. More information on the Historical Designation.
P.O. Box 211
West End of 4th Street
Stevensville, MT 59870
406-777-5734
Email: stmary@cybernet1.com
www.saintmarysmission.org
National Historic District
Your tax deductible contribution can help preserve and protect this important part of western history.
Watercolor depicting arrival of the "Black Robes"
by Fr. Nicholas Point, S.J.
click image for larger view
" WHERE MONTANA BEGAN "
Historic St. Mary's to be
Featured in Exhibit at the Smithsonian
The National Museum of the American Indian of the Smithsonian Institute is working on a project called “Stories of Encounter,” a touch-screen exhibition interactive display that will teach visitors about contact between Native communities and Europeans. One of the stories will focus on Father De Smet's contact with the Salish people and the founding of St. Mary's Mission.
1879 historic photograph of St. Mary's Mission, Stevensville, Montana. This was the fourth chapel built for the Flathead (Salish) Indians.
Slated to open in early 2012 the NMAI exhibit will present an interactive map that lets visitors explore 24 stories. Each story gives a glimpse of the conditions at the particular site when the great civilizations of the Americas met explorers from outside this hemisphere.
"In addition to dispelling the 'empty parkland' vision of the Americas, the map will also communicate that these moments of encounter happened over a long period of time and not all in 1490's. This process of encounter and subsequent change was prolonged, profound and difficult. These moments in time changed the world and contemporary peoples continue to live with the results."
"Black Robes" meeting with Flathead at their encampment. Fr. Anthony Ravalli's arrival at St. Mary's Mission in 1845. Fr. Ravalli is presented by Angus McDonald of the Hudson Bay Company to Chief Victor of the Flathead Tribe. Mural painted by Edgar S. Pazson in 1914 in the Missoula County Courthouse, Missoula, Montana.
2 of the photos to be used in the Smithsonian exhibit
2012 - THE YEAR OF FATHER RAVALLI
This year marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Antonio Ravalli who was born in Ferrara, Italy in 1812. Young Antonio joined the priesthood and in 1843 was recruited by Fr. Pierre De Smet, to serve at St. Mary's MIssion in the remote area of the American West and what was later to become the State of Montana.
The many talents of Fr. Ravalli were instrumental in bringing agriculture, art, music, medicine, religion, and more to the area.
Join us on May 16th from 11 to 4 for cake and special tour rates to help celebrate the birth of this amazing man who gave so much to the place "Where Montana Began".
