The 58 murals inside St. Ignatius Mission make art and architectural history a tangible way to explore local history. They were created over a period of fourteen months in 1904–1905. Their subjects range from scenes from the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament to the lives of the saints.
Murals and the Mission’s Architectural History
St Ignatius takes its name from the mission founded by Belgian Jesuit missionary Fr. Pierre-Jean De Smet. In 1973, St. Ignatius Mission was listed as a National Historic Site. The complex consists of four buildings. The St. Ignatius Museum is housed in the original 1854 log church and features exhibits on the work of the Sisters of Providence and the Ursulines.
The present-day church has its own construction history: construction began in 1891 and took two years. The original log church and the later church thus represent different building phases of the mission complex. For directions, the mission is about two blocks off Highway 93; signs on the highway point to it, and it is visible from there.
Trading History and Historic Sites
Fort Connah is located on US Highway 93 between St Ignatius and Charlo. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the site was a Hudson’s Bay Company trading post founded in 1846 and operated from 1846 to 1871. One of the three original buildings remains; it is considered the oldest standing building in Montana. A semiannual rendezvous is held at the historic site every May and September. Check the specific event dates before your trip.
The original log cabin of the Four Winds Indian Trading Post also tells the story of the trading post era: Duncan McDonald built it in 1870, and it was later moved from Ravalli to its present location. Four Winds is considered Montana’s oldest and longest-operating trading post. The historic store offers authentic goods such as beads, face paint, deer and elk hides, dance bells, genuine sinew, and porcupine quill headdresses. The selection may change. Purchases help support and preserve traditional arts and crafts.
Mission Mountains and Regional Trails
East of St Ignatius, the Mission Mountains rise nearly 7,000 feet above the valley floor; they are less than 10 miles away. Their highlands provide habitat for species such as mountain goats, deer, elk, moose, bears, eagles, and ospreys.
In the western part of the Mission Mountains, about 89,500 acres of tribal land were designated a Tribal Wilderness Area by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes in 1979. This designated area refers to a specific western part of the range, not the entire mountain range.
In the St Ignatius area, the CSKT Bison Range offers the 19-mile Red Sleep Drive, the 14-mile Prairie Drive, and four hiking trails. Conditions may change, so check the latest information before visiting. Also in the region, the Mission Falls Trail covers about 3.3 miles; its trailhead is accessible via Mission Dam Road. Check current access conditions before setting out.
Workshops by Appointment
Judith Colvin Designs combines traditional wet-felting techniques with handmade wool products, including hats, purses, scarves, shawls, and wall hangings. Private and group workshops are available by appointment. If you’d like to include this experience in your travel plans, arrange a time in advance; availability may change.
Explore more destinations: Polson.
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