History

An abbreviated timeline of how the Missoula Art Museum came to be:

1903

Missoula Free Public library was built with a $12,500 grant from Andrew Carnegie, designed by architect A.J. Gibson.

1912

Carnegie granted $9,000 for the construction of the second floor, designed by Gibson's assistant Ole Bakke.

1972

Festival of the Arts was held in Missoula with over 10,000 people in attendance.

1973

Missoula Festival of the Arts Committee petitions Missoula City Council to establish a civic center in the now-defunct library building.

1974

The Missoula City Council agreed to lease the building at $1 a year and allotted $25,000 for repairs to the building. Architect William Fox designed the remodel. The Missoula County Commissioners grant a permissive Mill Levy to fund the operation.

1975

Missoula Museum of the Arts opened on March 15 with the exhibition Native Funk and Flash,  which reflected the hip, avant-garde culture of the 1970s.

1987

Missoula Museum of the Arts begins to collect art and is awarded accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums.

1989

The Museum endowment is established.

1995

The museum is reformed from a County agency to a 501(c)3 nonprofit. Interior remodel conducted.

1998

Architectural Assessment conducted by architect Jim McDonald. Board decides to remodel and expand the Carnegie Library building.

2001

City of Missoula, Missoula County, and Missoula Redevelopment Agency pledge support for the museum's remodel and expansion.

2003

MAM launches Renaissance Renovation and Renewal Campaign. Architect Warren Hampton, OZ Architects is selected.

2005

Construction commences for 21 months. $5.3 million capital campaign proceeds successfully.

2006

The successful new building design seamlessly fuses the 100-year-old Carnegie Library building with a contemporary addition, creating the ideal environment for exhibiting, celebrating, and preserving MAM's growing contemporary art collection. The name Missoula Art Museum is adopted.

2007

In response to the Kresge Challenge, MAM completes its capital campaign on January 3.

2017

The museum expands its footprint outdoors with the dedication of the newly constructed Art Park.