Learn About Montana’s Fascinating Past At The Quirky Old Trail Museum

Choteau is a charming and highly underrated city in Teton County named for a French fur merchant. Although it currently has a population of about 1,800, this small town is home to an enormous amount of history. And there's no better place to learn about it than the Old Trail Museum.

You'll find the Old Trail Museum at 823 North Main in downtown Choteau.

Typically, the museum is open daily from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. Last year's season was suspended for the health and safety of guests and staff.

This delightful museum showcases the rich history of Montana's Rocky Mountain Front.

The complex consists of the main museum building along with a wooden boardwalk consisting of several other buildings such as the Grizzly Cabin, the Metis House, the Schoolhouse, and the Ice Cream Parlor.

This is one of the 14 stops on the Montana Dinosaur Trail.

It even has a "touch bone," a real fossilized duck-billed dinosaur thighbone that guests are allowed to touch.

The fossils and other paleontology exhibits are definitely the main attraction, but the museum includes much more.

You can check out artifacts from some of Choteau's earliest residents.

Some of the other exhibits include Old Agency on the Teton, Jesse Gleason’s art studio, the Old North Trail, a Metis Red River Cart, and Choteau’s last hanging, as well as exhibits on Native American history.

Needless to say, you will not be bored at this museum.

It's easy to spend an entire day enjoying the Old Trail Museum.

You'll definitely work up an appetite, which is why the Old Trail Museum has an on-site ice cream parlor.

The next time you're in Choteau, check out the Old Trail Museum.

We can guarantee you'll learn a few things.

For updates on the Old Trail Museum opening date, check the website.