Missoula Visitors Guide
Home to five scenic valleys, the junction of 3 rivers, and the site of the University of Montana, Missoula is the state’s second largest city. It is known as a trading and transportation crossroads as well as a lumber and paper manufacturing center. Missoula has a large quantity of timber land so it is no surprise that it is home to the US Forestry Service regional headquarters and the Montana State Forest Service.
Missoula Museums and Galleries
The Museum of Art and Culture displays
art work that encourages the education of university students,
provides research and aid for professionals, and proffers
public pleasure. You will find the museum on the campus
of the University of Montana.
The Missoula Art Museum hosts and develops 25 exhibitions each year. There are travelling exhibits, community events, lectures, slide shows and art classes.
The Historical Museum at Fort Missoula is home to 13 historic structures and a collection of over 17,000 permanent and changing exhibits. The displays highlight items from Montana’s early to modern times.
The Museum of Mountain Flying has exhibits on the history of flying in Montana and the Northern Rockies.
Missoula Visitors Centers
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Wildlife Visitor Center is home to the national wildlife group. While there, you will view displays on elk, natural history and can tour the art gallery.
The Smokejumper Visitors Center is the nation’s largest active smokejumpers base. You will see the National Smokejumpers Memorial, a replica of a 1930s lookout tower and the smokejumper’s loft used by smokejumpers when they are not fire fighting.
The Ninemile Remount Depot was used from 1930 to 1953 and provided experienced
packers and pack animals for backcountry work projects as
well as firefighting.
Missoula Outdoor Activities
The Missoula Carousel is one of the first completely hand carved carousels built in America since the Great Depression. It contains 39 horses and 2 chariots—all of which were crafted by volunteers.
The Snowbowl is a popular place all year. You can ski its close-in runs and the backside of the Lavelle Creek Area is perfect for families. There is also a restaurant, a ski school, and mountainside accommodations. During the summer, you can ride to 7,000 feet via the chairlift then spend your day hiking, biking, and golfing. To the mountains summit where you can ride the chair back down.
Do you love the scent of roses? Then don’t miss the Memorial Rose Garden with its 2,500+ rose bushes which commemorate our war casualties from World War II to present.
Missoula Parks and Recreation
Missoula is home to a number of outdoor recreation areas. You can cast your line at Beavertail Hill State Park or Frenchtown Pond State Park, relive history at Council Grove State Park where the Hellgate Treaty was signed with the Flathead Indians or get back to nature at Lolo National Forest.
The Lolo is a favorite retreat year round. During the winter, there is cross country skiing and hiking. Summer weather entices the fly fisherman to its four rivers and their tributaries. Also for the sportsman are the foot trails to its many lakes and mountain peaks found within it’s over 2 million acres of forest. Of special interest are the historic Lolo Trail and the Lewis and Clark Highway over the Bitterroot Mountains. You can extend your visit by reserving one of the campgrounds or cabins. There are also classes on horsemanship, backcountry survival and historic preservation offered by the Ninemile Wildland’s Training Center.
 Climate
- Missoula gets 14 inches of rain per year. Snowfall is
37 inches. The average US city gets 25 inches of snow per
year. The number of days with any measurable precipitation
is 102. On average, there are 159 sunny days per year. The
July high is around 86 degrees. The January low is 14.
Population - As of 2007, Missoula's population
is 64,081 people. Since 2000, it has had a population growth
of 12.32 percent.
Economy / Cost of Living - Compared to
the rest of the country, Missoula's cost of living is 2.57%
Lower than the U.S. average. The unemployment rate in Missoula
is 1.80%, with job growth of 3.16%. Future job growth over
the next ten years is predicted to be 32.35%. Missoula sales
tax rate is 0.00%. Income tax is 10.00%. The income per
capita is $20,947. The median household income is
$35,068.
Education - Missoula schools spend $5,269
per student. There are 16 pupils per teacher, 401 students
per librarian, and 589 children per counselor.
Real Estate / Housing - The median home
value in is $291,000. Home appreciation is 4.53% over the
last year. Renters make up 46.39% of the population and
4.32% of houses and apartments are unoccupied.
Photo Credits: Stadium by Justin Brockie;
Missoula from hill by Kaszeta ; Trout statues by Functor User
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