Historical Society chooses 10 for Gallery of Outstanding Montanans in state Capitol

The gallery, which the Montana Legislature founded in 1979, honors Montanans from every era of the state's past. Each inductee will be recognized with an eight-year display inside the Montana State Capitol in Helena.

"Each of these ten individuals contributed to Montana, and in some cases, changed the nation,” said Martha Kohl, Outreach and Education program manager with the Montana Historical Society. "Their stories span a remarkable range of lives, fields, and eras, and together they reflect the full breadth of what it means to be an Outstanding Montanan."

A statewide call for nominees is issued by the Historical Society every decade, meaning the next wave will occur in 2036.

The 10 people up for induction are:

Charles Bovey (1907–1978) and Sue Bovey (1907–1988): Historic preservationists who dedicated their lives to preserving the state’s heritage. They are best known for saving Virginia City and recreating neighboring Nevada City, according to the Historical Society, safeguarding Montana's gold-rush heritage.

Frances Senska (1914–2009): A professor at Montana State University, she was known as the state’s "grandmother of ceramics in Montana" for her teaching and helping establish the Archie Bray Foundation. In 1988, she and Jessie Wilber earned the governor’s award for Distinguished Achievement in the Arts.

Carmen Louise Cross (1919–2014): As a conservationist and curator, Cross was one of 19 women elected to the 1972 Montana Constitutional Convention and the only woman to chair an article committee. Cross also helped found the Frontier Gateway Museum in Glendive.

Dr. Huie Pock (1849–1927): A Chinese man who wore many hats — physician, herbalist, acupuncturist and merchant — Pock practiced medicine in Butte circa 1895 until his death. He built a distinguished professional life despite exclusionary federal laws, racial prejudice and threats to Chinese-owned businesses.

Elouise Pepion Cobell (1945–2011): The tribal advocate and Blackfeet Nation treasurer Elouise Cobell helped found the nation's first tribally owned bank. She is best known as the lead plaintiff in Cobell v. Salazar, a landmark lawsuit against the Department of the Interior that resulted in a $3.4 billion settlement.

Cornelius Hedges (1831–1907): A lawyer, educator and builder who established the Masonic Order in Montana and served as its first superintendent of public instruction. He also played a role in creating Yellowstone National Park.

George Horse Capture (1937–2013): He was a curator, anthropologist and activist who was among the first Native Americans to serve as a U.S. museum curator. Capture was instrumental in creating the National Museum of the American Indian on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

Emma Ingalls (1860–1940): The newspaper publisher and legislator was among the first two women elected to the Montana Legislature. She introduced the 19th Amendment in the Montana House and chaired the Bureau of Child and Animal Protection’s northwest district.

Harriette Cushman (1890–1978): An agricultural extension agent and poultry specialist who worked for the Montana Extension Service from 1922-1954. Under her guidance, Montana's poultry industry expanded dramatically. During the 1920s, Cushman helped form the nation's first egg and turkey wholesale cooperatives.

Benjamin Steele (1917–2016): A World War II veteran and survivor of the Bataan Death March, he began drawing while a prisoner of war, documenting the suffering and resilience of those around him. Afterward, he earned a master’s in art from the University of Denver and taught at Eastern Montana College in Billings.