Carter County Museum

The Carter County Museum is both a Historical and a Natural History Museum dedicated to the preservation of the past for future generations to experience and to learn from. As George Santayana said..."Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

Carter County Museum was founded in 1936, through the efforts of Walter H. Peck, Deloss Hall, and Septon Cady, and other interested area residents, under the auspices of the Carter County Geological Society. Carter County Museum holds the distinct honor of being the first chartered county owned museum founded within the State of Montana.

Located within the town of Ekalaka, this little known museum houses, what we believe to be, some of the finest Paleontological discoveries in the United States; as well as numerous artifacts depicting the lives of Native Americans and the early settlers of Carter County.

Architecturally the museum is quite unique. The oldest portion of the Museum was built in1926, as a working automotive garage. Following its purchase in the 1970's, the original structure was modified and redesigned with the lobby, tower, bathrooms and back section being added. The beautiful petrified wood which you see used in the design throughout the museum was donated by area ranchers. Rankin Dean, a local carpenter, along with Marshall Lambert, then Museum Director, dedicated themselves to the design and development of the beautiful building which exists today.

Admission to Carter County Museum is Free, we operate solely on a 1.5 mil county tax levy, funds generated from our Gift Shop and the generous donations of our visitors, patrons and annual supporters.