Travelers’ Rest in Lolo marks 25 years with family history events

The park has told Montana’s story for decades. This year, it marked two milestones at once with America’s 250th anniversary and the park’s own 25th birthday.

The nonprofit that supports Travelers’ Rest said the celebration was about more than dates on a calendar. Organizers said they wanted this year’s events to help visitors better understand the many voices and cultures that intersect in western Montana.

“Travelers’ Rest State Park has been here for 25 years and we are here to preserve American history—not just the U.S. history of Lewis and Clark but also the important Indigenous history of this area,” said Molly Stockdale.

This year’s “25 Events for 25 Years” included concerts, educational programs, art exhibits and family activities. The lineup was designed to welcome new visitors while giving returning guests something different to explore.

“We’ve always said that we want to be the leader in place-based education in Montana... so that everybody who stops here feels a sense of the power of this place, the history of this place and feels a little bit more connected to the history of Montana and the country at large,” said Molly Stockdale.

Families visiting over the holiday weekend could also pick up free American Innovation science kits. The kits were filled with hands-on experiments meant to help kids learn through play while connecting science with history.

The celebration began July 3 with free science activities for kids from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. On July 8, families could return for more activities and a public reading of the Declaration of Independence.