New exhibit touches on Montana’s three national Christmas trees: 1958’s Engelmann Spruce known as “Ike’s Tree”; 1989’s spruce, also cut from the Kootenai National Forest near Libby; and 1989’s sub-alpine fir, harvested near Hamilton. “Our Forgotten Pioneers: The Chinese in Montana,” continuing through next spring, explores the contributions of this little-understood ethnic group that settled in many urban Montana communities. The display includes textiles, artifacts, and personal items, and vignettes showing mining, railroading, a laundry, restaurant, an apothecary and a temple associated with Chinese culture from 1862-1943. “Eloquence in Wood: The Art of John L. Clarke,” on display through January 2, examines the artistic vision of a man who could neither hear or speak. For the Blackfeet artist, art was a tool for communication, reflected in his sculptures, paintings and drawings.
Venue: Montana Historical Society