Exhibits at Travelers’ Rest

Inside the Travelers’ Rest Visitor Center you’ll find permanent and traveling exhibits that tell the story of Lewis and Clark and the history of the area.

Lewis & Clark exhibits include archaeological finds from the Travelers’ Rest site, replica clothing and equipment from the Expedition, dioramas of the Travelers’ Rest campsite and the Expedition’s approach to Glade Creek, and historical firearms. A collection of modern and contemporary beadwork, musical instruments, and powwow regalia by diverse indigenous artists highlights the traditional crafts of Native Americans. Natural history displays include skulls and pelts of bear, beaver, and birds. Also on display is a running list of species sighted at Travelers’ Rest State Park in the current year.

Opening on March 9: Ursus Horribilis: The Grizzly Bear Illustrated

This collection of 50 vintage prints illustrates the grizzly bear of the American frontier West as portrayed by artists of note, such as Karl Bodmer, Titian Ramsay Peale, and Frederic Remington. 

Artworks address the tangled relationship between humans and grizzlies, including:

• the great bear in its natural habitat as it pursues its prey,
• Native Americans who sought to enlist its power,
• white hunters engaging “Old Ephraim” in a dangerous contest of wills,
• cattlemen who subdued it for sport and in defense of their economic enterprise, and
• distinctive portraits by artists who justly admired the bear’s commanding stature. 

Frontiersman Rufus B. Sage wrote in 1859, “…the grizzly bear stalks forth at pleasure, in his majesty and strength, lord of the wild solitudes in which he dwells, and none dare oppose him.”

Visions of Lewis & Clark

A collection of 40 kites inspired by the Lewis & Clark Expedition and the many people, places, and animals they encountered on their journey arrives in Missoula County in April.

Look for kites on display in the Region 2 Headquarters of Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks, the Missoula Public Library, Missoula Butterfly House, the Missoula Airport, and the Mansfield Library at the University of Montana.

Click here for a map to kite locations.

Click here for information on kite artists and designs.

Seasons of the Salish

This exhibit focuses on the Seasonal Round to show how the Séliš and Ql̓ispé people moved through the landscape to gather resources throughout the year. It includes several artifacts made in the traditional way including a cedar bark basket and Bitterroot digging stick. An update to this exhibit was completed in 2023 and was funded in part by the Lewis & Clark Trail Stewardship Endowment.

Trekker Kids Corner

Young visitors can use their senses to explore history in this exhibit designed just for them. Hands-on replicas and an interactive matching game encourage children to compare items used by Lewis & Clark to contemporary gear. Exhibit panels invite them to consider the sounds, smells, and tastes of the 19th century. Youngsters can try on coats, look through a microscope, or read a picture book. Learn more about Trekker Kids.