HELENA – History was made Wednesday as officials broke ground for a new $52.7 million Montana Heritage Center that will feature all things Montana and some things from before the state was founded.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held on the front lawn of the Montana Historical Society in an event that included facemasks to ward off COVID-19.
Bruce Whittenberg, executive director of the 155-year-old Montana Historical Society, said the first attempt by the Montana Legislature to move the project forward was in 2005.
“Through eight legislative sessions, plenty of hard work, joy, some tears and frustration, the patience and the passion of the board of trustees of the Montana Historical Society, we’re now ready to move forward,” he said.
He thanked Republican Sen. Terry Gauthier and GOP Rep. Julie Dooling of Helena and Democratic Sen. Jill Cohenour, all of East Helena, for their “courage” in helping to get the project passed.
“It was quite remarkable to watch during this last legislative session,” Whittenberg said.
He said the historical society must raise $10 million to support project and so far has raised $5.71 million.
Whittenberg also thanked Gov. Steve Bullock and Lt. Gov. Mike Cooney for their support.
“You were the right leaders at the right time,” he said.
Cooney said it was a “gigantic step” for the center.
“It’s time we have a building that will do justice to the extensive collections that tell Montanans many stories over the years,” he said, adding the center will tell us how we got here and how we should move forward.
Previous coverage: Sletten of Great Falls named general contractor for $52M Montana museum
Bullock said this was a new chapter in creating a home for Montana’s diverse history.
“When I think about what we are building at the heritage center, I see a place where visitors from across our state, the nation and even the world can gather and come together (and learn) who we are and where we come from,” he said.
“This heritage center will share the story of all Montanans with the rest of the world,” Bullock said.
He said the building was designed with sustainable features in such a way that it will save the state millions over the long run. He said it will be a world-class facility.
The new design includes $32 million in additions and renovations to the current Montana Historical Society and will straddle 6th Avenue. It incorporates a Capitol-facing entry plaza, an indoor cafeteria, an outdoor patio, an event center and a large gallery space, officials said.
The project is expected to be complete in early 2024.
Department of Administration officials said Wednesday the University of Montana Bureau of Business and Economic Research estimates the new heritage center will bring in 78,000 morel visitors a year and create $7.5 million more in annual tourist spending.
They said the project is expected to pay for itself within seven years of its 2024 grand opening, as well as create construction jobs for the next three years.
Department of Administration Director John Lewis said Wednesday this was the first new building on the Capitol campus in 40 years and believes it will be a catalyst to more improvements to the campus area.
“It’s going to be a great heritage center,” he said.
The ceremony was capped off by a blessing by Steve Lozar, a historical society board member and a member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.
He said he was humbled to speak at the event and celebrate the diversity of the state, and he called what he was about to do a “ground blessing” in “which we give back and we ask for forgiveness.”
It wasn’t an easy road to get the expansion and met some resistance from state lawmakers over the years. Senate Bill 338, known as the Montana Museums Act of 2020, passed in the final hours of the 2019 legislative session and the Department of Administration was appointed to oversee the project.
Lawmakers increased the statewide accommodations tax -- often called a bed tax as it targets tourists and applies to hotel rooms and campgrounds -- from 3% to 4% to use a portion to pay for the new home for the Montana Historical Society. Not only was it to benefit the creation of a new Heritage Center, it also created a grant program to fund restorations of historical sites and museums across the state.
In July, lawmakers were told the revenues for the tax were coming in $5 million less than projected, as COVID-19 was keeping visitors away. Whittenberg said the project continued to move forward.
In April the Montana Historical Society unveiled an updated design plan. In June, the Helena City Commission vacated a portion of Sixth Avenue to make way for the heritage center extension.
Sletten Construction of Great Falls has won a preconstruction contract to assist in designing the facility. Sletten also has been hired as the construction manager and general contractor.
The state is working with the design firm of Cushing Terrell from Bozeman
Reporter Phil Drake is our eye on the state capitol. For tips, suggestions or comment, he can be reached at 406-231-9021 or pdrake@greatfallstribune.com. To support his work, subscribe today and get a special offer.
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