Upper Swan Valley Historical Society

Upper Swan Valley Historical SocietyUpper Swan Valley Historical SocietyUpper Swan Valley Historical Society

Upper Swan Valley Historical Society

Upper Swan Valley Historical SocietyUpper Swan Valley Historical SocietyUpper Swan Valley Historical Society
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Exhibits

The Dixberg Express

Train rebuild by Erik and Kris Gullikson and Ron Price

1932 U.S. Forest Service Tack Shed

green shed with snow coverd mountain and pine trees in background

Used by the USFS employees working in the Lindbergh Lake area. Located between the U.S. Forest Service Campground and Laird’s Lodge, in the vicinity of the Lindbergh Lake Patrol Cabin. Image credit: Helene Michael.

Swan River Tavern

 The Original Swan River Tavern is now standing on a firm concrete foundation. Matthew Brothers Construction completed the project in December 2023. The Tavern had sunk three inches. It had been resting on timber blocks that were rotting.

Project funding came from a Missoula County Impact Grant, a Preserve Missoula County History Grant, the Unaffiliated Church of Condon, Western Cultural Inc., and private donation.

image of log cabin

Bill Anderson, Lloyd Hahn, and a crew of volunteers moved the Swan River Tavern to the Swan Valley Museum & Heritage Site in 2012. Donated by the Quadros family. 

The Museum piano

man tuning piano

David Larson of Larson Piano Services, Missoula, MT tuning the Swan Valley Museum piano. Watch the videos on YouTube. Image and videos: Helene Michael

Meyers donate rustic furniture

Neil and Dixie Meyer brought two rustic chairs and a table to the museum grounds. Neil used a chainsaw to make the chairs and table from a very large lodgepole pine tree - nice additions to our museum.

Selish-Ql'ispe Place Names Map

map on easel stand

The Selish-Ql'ispe Culture Committee provided a Swan Valley Place Names Map for display in the Swan Valley Museum. The map features the Pend d'Oreille Indian names of the landmarks, as well as photos and descriptions of this region.


Below are highlights from the OCT 11, 2017 Dedication Ceremony. 

Maki Cabin

The two-room Maki Cabin was likely built by Swan Valley homesteader Jalmer Maki in the late 1910s or early 1920s. One room was a sauna.


Special thanks to Gary Freyholtz of Swan Valley Logcrafters, who has pieced the cabin back together from a pile of logs. We would also like to thank Gary Lazarowski and Steve Lamar who have added the rafters and installed the roof.

various phases of building/restoring Maki Cabin
various phases of building/restoring Maki Cabin
various phases of building/restoring Maki Cabin
various phases of building/restoring Maki Cabin
various phases of building/restoring Maki Cabin
various phases of building/restoring Maki Cabin
various phases of building/restoring Maki Cabin
various phases of building/restoring Maki Cabin
various phases of building/restoring Maki Cabin
various phases of building/restoring Maki Cabin
various phases of building/restoring Maki Cabin
various phases of building/restoring Maki Cabin
various phases of building/restoring Maki Cabin
image of log cabin

Trapper Cabin

The Upper Swan Valley Historical Society, Inc. obtained an old trapper cabin to exhibit at the Swan Valley Museum. Built by Fred Messerer in the late 1920s, early 1930s era, the cabin originally was located in the Elbow Lake Lookout area above Lindbergh Lake.

A Place for All: Christmas Trapper Tales

Pathfinder, NOV 27, 2014 (pdf)

Download

Log home tools

Split-rail fence

Log home tools

man with log buidling tools

Gary Lazarowski built a tool exhibit for the Museum and donated a number of books and information tied to log home construction.

Tipi

Split-rail fence

Log home tools

two men assembling tipi

 Salish and Kootenai College Professor Tim Ryan helped volunteers set up a tipi the way his grandmother taught him. 

Split-rail fence

Split-rail fence

Split-rail fence

split-rail fence

 Thank you, Custom Landworks! Chris Barnes and his crew installed a new split-rail cedar fence along the south boundary of the Museum property.

image of log cabin being moved on truck

Whalen Homestead Cabin

The Whalen homestead cabin is now at home on the Swan Valley museum site. It was located on the Donald property visible from the Kraft Creek road. Sharon Gressle a descendant of the homesteaders along with her relatives donated the cabin and the moving costs to the Upper Swan Valley Historical Society.

Pathfinder, June 2, 2016

Smith Creek School House

Smith Creek School Gains New Home

Pathfinder, JUL 2, 2015 (pdf)

Download

Swan Valley Museum

Swan Valley Museum

Help us continue developing and maintaining the Swan Valley Museum. Pledge your support!

Upper Swan Valley Historical Society

MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 1128, Condon, MT 59826

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Copyright © 2025 Upper Swan Valley Historical Society - All Rights Reserved.

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