Montana Moment

A few years ago, NBC Montana showcased a couple and their disabled dogs. Angel Eyes Sanctuary near Huson, is a safe haven for animals. We wanted to update viewers on the sanctuary's progress and its challenges. So, one warm October day we revisited the non-profit rural property. It was like no time passed at all. After three-and-a-half years, the sanctuary dogs came to greet NBC Montana, bombardin...

They say everybody has a story to tell. But imagine how many stories untold or long forgotten are buried in our cemeteries. For years now, stories have been resurrected at the Missoula City Cemetery. The cemetery recently welcomed the public to it's 24th annual Stories and Stones event. Storytellers, many dressed in period costume, stand before the gravesite of someone they have researched. For a...

We see them in most Montana towns and cities. They are the advertisements that you see painted on the exteriors of old buildings. They've outlasted the products or businesses they once promoted, symbols of the past, reminding us of generations long gone. They call them ghost signs. To learn more about these once common forms of advertisement, NBC Montana traveled to downtown Bozeman. While Bozeman...

It's harvest time for Montana gardeners. Produce is ripening and garden flowers are blooming. Helen and Peter Allen grow just about everything at their Kangaroo House Gardens west of Hamilton. Peter lists rhubarb, squash, pumpkins, honey berries, and a dozen more fruits and vegetables growing in the half-acre garden. That's a lot of ground to take care of. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit m...

For decades, we've used synthetic materials made from chemicals of fossil fuels to manufacture clothing. But many consumers prefer material made of natural fibers. Wool used to be an essential material for apparel. In a sign of the times, Montana State University in Bozeman, has opened a new multi-million dollar wool lab to improve Montana's wool industry. The Montana Wool Lab replaces the origina...

In 1864, four prospectors discovered gold in Last Chance Gulch, catapulting Helena into one of the west's most lucrative boom towns. Montana's Capital City has come a long way from its rough and tumble days as a frontier gold camp. But the seat of state government blends past with contemporary. NBC Montana took a ride on the Last Chance Tour Train, which has been continuously operating s...

Some of the region's most extraordinary works of religious art can be found at Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Missoula. Sixty-eight murals, plus other decorative artwork, adorn the interior of the historic building. But the passage of time has left its mark, and the works of an Italian Jesuit Brother are getting a massive restoration. The murals surround anyone who enters the ch...

There's no better friend than one who won't leave you when you really need them. It's that close connection that makes you feel better when you're feeling your worst. True friendship lightens the load, and makes every day a little more fun. Cheryl Williams has always loved dogs, especially Labradors. “We’ve had six different labs," said Cheryl from her home in Missoula. " I had dogs as a child. Th...

It used to be just about every small town in America had a local movie theater. It was a go-to spot for families, teens on dates, and kids on Saturday afternoon. Today, many if not most of those family-owned and operated theatres, and drive-ins have disappeared, especially in rural areas. But not all of them. NBC Montana spent time in Polson, where its downtown theatre is going strong. On the...

It's one of the most intriguing periods in American history. Few eras have generated more books, movies, and tall tales than stories of the Old West. Montana holds an important chapter in their telling. Inside a historic building, on Main Street in Deer Lodge, Don Cappa has housed a lifetime collection of artifacts from that period. It would be hard to count just how many there are. Learn more abo...

The annual Field Day at the Western Agricultural Research Center brought farmers, students, and scientists from around the state to share and learn more about the work being done at this 119-year-old farm. Montana State University in Bozeman oversees the Corvallis site as well as six other centers across the state. Each of the stations is geared to serve Montana agriculture's diverse nee...

We see them in fields, alleys, barns, eking out a living as predators, or relying on someone to feed them. Feral cats, or wild cats, if left unattended, multiply quickly, usually in great numbers, For years, Fox Hollow Animal Project has been working to reduce the feral population by spaying, neutering, and vaccinating them for free. When Dr. Alan Applebury sold his small animal veterina...

The Salish People have been harvesting the bulbs of the camas plant for thousands of years. You will find the plant growing in Montana grasslands and meadows, it's stunning bluish-purple flowers bursting onto the landscape in mid to late June. The seasonal camas harvest is a revered part of Salish history. As part of it Indigenous People's Exhibition, an artistic image of that cultural history has...

Some of the country's best athletes will gather in Kalispell this week. These athletes are skilled competitors at the top of their game. NBC Montana has a preview of The Event at Rebecca Farm, which will run Wednesday through Sunday, July 15th through July 19th. The event is a world class family-run equestrian venue. The farm is busy preparing for this triathlon and qualifier for the Oly...

Artist Brian Morger started drawing pictures when he was three years old. He drew everything around him. From his art, you see that much of his work is tied to the moment, to the landscape around him, and to the people and animals who live there. NBC Montana recently spent time with the artist at his Black Eagle home and studio. Leafing through a book of his early work, he showed us a picture of t...

Are there times when you just know when something's right? You discover that despite obstacles, everything turns out fine because it's meant to be. If that happens, your sense of contentment and happiness may spread throughout your community. That's kind of the way it was for a Bozeman couple, who in the 1960's, were busy raising a family. From the very first time he saw the handsome old house in...

A thousand years ago, a new life began near present day Seeley Lake. The only witnesses to his youth would have been the Indigenous People. He was already 200-years-old when the Magna Carta was signed, and more than 800 when the Civil War started. But today, this Western Larch tree, affectionately known as Gus, continues to thrive. In the Seeley Lake District of the Lolo National Forest, a pathway...

March can be a blustery month in Montana. It introduces spring, but weather can be inconsistent. Greenhouses, however, can boost production of warm weather plants. In Hamilton, there' a particularly exotic greenhouse. ABC Acres property manager Dalton Brown invited NBC Montana into the ABC Acres Tropical Botanical Garden. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Standing high above Missoula, it's a landmark you can't miss. If you're new to Missoula or just passing through, you might wonder what it stands for. If you live in Missoula you probably already know. But do you know how it got there? NBC Montana is talking about the L on Mount Jumbo. This huge white letter, a kind of twin to the M on Mount Sentinel, has been visible to the community since 1961. T...

Corvallis American Legion Post 91 will host its 106th annual Memorial Day Parade down Main Street Monday morning. The parade starts at 10 a.m. Its Grand marshal is an Army veteran who has spent years helping make the parade one of Montana's most popular Memorial Day events. Doug Mason is also a military historian who made it a mission to honor the lives and stories of veterans buried in the Corval...

Some of the most famous works of modern art are on exhibit at the Montana Heritage Center in Helena. The Poindexter Collection of Modern Art contain masterpieces from the late 1940's, 50's and 60's. George Poindexter and his wife Elinor donated the collection to the Montana Historical Society. NBC Montana traveled to Helena to see these collected works, which are some of the country's most renowne...

A community may be served best when its people have direct involvement in its health and prosperity. Volunteers can be the back bone of getting things done and sustaining its amenities. Drive Highway 93 South past Victor, and you'll see trees and shrubs that enhance the town and medians along the highway. It's where NBC Montana spent time with the chairman of the Victor Park District. Learn more a...

By the turn of the 20th century elk populations in North America were at desperately low levels. Years of unregulated hunting had decimated elk numbers. But there was a healthy population of elk in Yellowstone National Park. In 1912, a herd of elk from Yellowstone were transported to Hamilton. Now mounts believed to be from the original Yellowstone elk are being celebrated at the new fire hall. Le...

This past week the country focused its attention on conservation. Arbor Day brought out scores of conservationists to plant and nurture trees. Efforts to protect our planet brought the world together for Earth Day celebrations. Cleaning up and recycling are never ending jobs. To get a feel for a typical day at a recycling center NBC Montana spent time at Modern Recycling in Victor. Learn more abou...

The Missoula Children's Theater has been entertaining audiences for more than 50 years. It's the final production of the 25-26 community series this season. 'Mamma Mia' runs from April 30 through May 17. But MCT is busy all year around. It's known as the world's largest children's touring theater. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices