In 1988, the Upper Swan Valley Historical Society was established in Condon, Montana. The goal was to discover, collect, preserve, and interpret materials relating to Montana’s Swan River Valley. Today the Swan Valley Historical Society has displays relating to the area history. Montana’s Swan River Valley is timber country and historically logging has been one of the valley’s most important economic factors. As early as 1916 sawmills in the valley began to turn logs into lumber. The Swan River Valley Historical Museum in Condon has a restored 1921 No. 1 American Sawmill.
Museums 101
Museums, particularly those in small towns, are important in preserving and telling the community’s history. Museums 101 is a series of photo tours of museums exhibits. More from this series:
Museums 101: Ranch and Sawmill (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: Logging Train (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: Farming in Washington (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: Wheat (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: A Collection of Wagons and Carriages (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: Victorian Life (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: Railroad Handcars and Motorcars (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: Saddles and More (Photo Diary)