history

With the end of the year closing in, the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula notched historic success this week by landing a $350,000 grant to complete the restoration of its World War II alien detention barracks.

A huge construction project is set to begin at the University of Montana in August of this year: a new $100-million, 600-bed residence hall to replace three existing dorms: Elrod, Craig and Duniway.

"As we celebrate women, we also acknowledge our responsibility to ensure every human life is treated with dignity, honor and respect from our first breath to our last."

Julia Butler Hansen was known for breaking glass ceilings in government. Her son wants to donate her former home so it can become a heritage site, but repair and upkeep costs are giving officials pause.

A building constructed south of the river in Missoula to accommodate growth in the railroad could get a facelift in the coming year, restoring it to its original appearance when it opened in 1910.

Jim Elliott writes, "America was built on a principle yet to be fully realized, but forever striving, to fulfill the dream of the equality of humankind."

One of the first hospitals in Missoula found a second life recently when the owners completed a substantial rehabilitation of the property and expanded the number of apartments from 16 to 22.

John Westenberg writes, "It is disappointing to read statements from some opponents that allowing the hospital to gradually deteriorate in place, even to the point of demolition, is preferable to any proposal that requires some attendant development."

Montana native Norm Asbjornson has donated $10.4 million for the construction of the new Montana Heritage Center in Helena.

Jim Harmon writes, "Using live bear cubs was problematic. They are animals and obviously don’t like being chained. On top of that there were the occasional “kidnappings,” and animal rights protests."