Whitefish Ski Museum Opens For Summer Season

The Whitefish Ski Heritage Museum opened for the summer season Thursday.

The Ski Heritage Center Museum of Skiing is operated by the Flathead Valley Ski Education Foundation in the historic Saddle Club cabin adjacent to Stumptown Ice Den in Mountain Trails Park.

The museum features a photographic exhibit depicting the early history of skiing in the Flathead Valley before and after the opening on the Big Mountain Ski Resort in 1947 , a Hall of Fame honoring the ski pioneers and local skiing legends, a life-size cutaway reproduction of the interior the Hellroaring Ski Cabin circa 1935 and a Video library featuring rare footage of skiing in the Valley and around Montana in the 1930's, 40's and 50's.

The museum is operated by the Flathead Valley Ski Education Foundation in the historic Saddle Club cabin adjacent to the Stumptown Ice Den in Mountain Trails Park. The museum features a photographic exhibit portraying the history of skiing in the Flathead Valley, a Hall of Fame honoring the ski pioneers and local skiing legends, a life-size cutaway reproduction of the interior the Hellroaring ski cabin circa 1935 and a video library featuring rare footage of skiing in the valley and around Montana in the 1930s, ’40s and ’50s.

Work is currently underway to add a 10th Mountain Division “Ski Troops” exhibit featuring the Flathead Valley men who served in this winter warfare unit in WWII, and to record firsthand accounts of surviving early-day skiers and employees of the Big Mountain Resort. 

A grant from the Denver-based 10th Mountain Division Foundation will help fund a new multi-media exhibit honoring the 10th Mountain Division from World War II and celebrating its impact on skiing history in the United States and here in the Flathead Valley. The exhibit will commemorate the legacy of the 10th Mountain Division, the Montanans who served, and their heroic exploits in World War II and the post-war impact of its veterans in building and reshaping the ski and outdoor industry in America.

A grant from the Whitefish Convention and Visitors Bureau will help fund the First Descents project to record firsthand accounts of surviving early-day skiers and employees of the Big Mountain Resort.

Both grants require matching funds and operating reserves be found to support the allocation of grant funds. The campaign to raise these matching funds was recently launched. “Clearly, raising the funds to provide a match for these grants is our highest priority,” Foundation Director Tim Hinderman said. “We are encouraged that there is abundant community support for documenting these important parts of our history and culture.”

Summer operating hours are noon to 5:00 PM, Wednesday - Saturday beginning June 24, and by appointment for group outings.

The Ski Heritage Center is located at 705 Wisconsin Avenue, right in front of the Stumptown Ice Den.