NW MT Histroy Museum, 7-28-25 Work Sesion HandoutNorthwest Montana
History Museum
nwmthistory.org l 406-756-8381
124 Second Ave. East
Kalispell, MT 59981
Work session July 28, 2025, regarding property assessor #E038913:
Proposal of Northwest Montana History Museum/Northwest Montana Historical Societyto
own Central School building (see letter to City Manager Doug Russell, dated May 22, 2025)
built 1894; sold in 1993 by Kalispell Public Schools for $1 to City of Kalispell; after
renovation leased to Northwest Montana Historical Society for use as museum; lease
expires 2037
Northwest Montana History Museum, opened 1999 in current location, stats from 2024:
® 10,336 visitors, including 1,700 kids
• 147 events
• 130+ exhibits since 1999
® 50,000+ items in collection
72 volunteers and work -based learning for Kalispell Public Schools students
approximately 350 members
® member: Kalispell Downtown Association, Discover Kalispell, Montana Nonprofit
Association, Glacier Country Tourism, Montana Historical Society
Museum pays taxes and user fees on the property, some of which is used by the city or
Leased bythe city to others. Museum also helps generate parking revenue for city on
Second Avenue East.
Apart from personnel expenses, building maintenance/operation is biggest expense
of the 501(c)(3) institution, including $81 k roof replacement (2010), $15k original wood
floor repair and refinish (2023), and $61 k HVAC upgrade (summer 2025).
Major expenses to come: new chiller ($180,000), replace alarm/fire panel per 2025
fire code inspection ($5,000), exterior painting and masonry repair, elevator parts
replacement, address water drainage around basement, climate -controlled space for
archival storage
Northwest Montana
History Museum
nwmthistory.org 1406-756-8381
-• 124 Second Ave. East
Kalispell, MT 59901
Mr. Douglas Russell
Kalispell City Manager
Kalispell, Montana 59901
Dear Mr. Russell,
May 22, 2025
Thank you for the opportunity to pursue further discussion with the city about our interest in
acquiring ownership of the Central School property, at 124 Second Ave. E., in Kalispell. As
proud stewards of the iconic 1894 Central School, we consider the structure and site our flagship
exhibit, a precious artifact of Kalispell's history.
But we also must focus on the future. Presently, there are many issues with the building that we
as a board are willing to take on. We will be happy to provide you with a list if requested.
Nonprofits have access to foundations and other preservation -focused funding sources. Tax-
deductible, well-defined capital campaigns attract benefactors. But we are confronted with the
reality that we don't own the facility and our tenure here is not ensured. We often do not meet
eligibility criteria. Private donors are scarce for capital improvements to leased facilities owned
by governments.
Ownership of the property will help the museum apply for grants to maintain, preserve, and
improve the structure, enable fundraising for a museum -owned permanent asset, and put the
nonprofit on a more stable foundation.
The minutes of the museum's board of directors formal resolution showing unanimous support
for this request, dated May 8, 2025, are attached. Thank you for considering our proposal to
accept the property (assessor no. E038913)) from the city. We are grateful for the opportunity and
Hope that the City of Kalispell will be amenable to this transfer of ownership.
Laurie Happ, President of Board of Directors
A.J. King, Board Member
Margaret E. Davis, Executive Director