For rail and history buffs young and old
The Depot Museum presents history exhibits from around mid-May to mid-September each year (see the calendar on this website). The region has a rich history in Yellowstone Park travel and the rails that originally carried people there starting in the 1880s. A variety of both regular and special exhibits are on display including these:
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Rails Across the Rockies: A Century of People and Places
The Depot's main exhibit introduces visitors to the railroads' key role in the growth of the American West and modern Montana, including the Northern Pacific and Yellowstone, track construction, telegraphy, wrecks, and more. Three of the nation's five transcontinental railroads ran through just Montana. After the Civil War, interest in the sparsely populated West grew as railroads, the newest technology in transportation, inched toward the Pacific. In 1869, the first transcontinental railroad crossed the nation through its center, and the journey from East to West became a relatively safe and comfortable trip of a few days instead of the once arduous cross-country horse trek or lengthy and dangerous voyage around South America. |
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In 1883, the Northern Pacific Railroad connected its eastern and western divisions west of Livingston, forever binding Montana to the population centers in the Midwest and on the west coast. Between 1883 and 1909, two more transcontinental rail links crossed Montana. The railroads needed to fill both their passenger and freight trains and thus came to place a high priority on convincing settlers to move west, as well as on finding and promoting tourist destinations. Livingston was a key center for the Northern Pacific, not only because it lay midway between the NP's endpoints at Seattle and St. Paul, as well as at the beginning of the Rocky Mountain passes its workers paid so dearly to cross, but also because the NP promoted it heavily as the first railroad gateway to Yellowstone National Park.
Once the railroad entered the mountains, the problem of steep grades, tunnels, and snowbound passes replaced the relative ease of crossing the Great Plains, both in construction and in operations. As you visit, you can begin to appreciate the extraordinary people who by skill, brawn, and often sheer will power created one of the greatest engineering feats in human history, -- the rails across the Rockies.
Once the railroad entered the mountains, the problem of steep grades, tunnels, and snowbound passes replaced the relative ease of crossing the Great Plains, both in construction and in operations. As you visit, you can begin to appreciate the extraordinary people who by skill, brawn, and often sheer will power created one of the greatest engineering feats in human history, -- the rails across the Rockies.
Film in Montana
The natural beauty of Montana, and the Livingston/Park County area in particular, have made it a natural draw for filmmakers since the earliest days of even the silent movies. From early murder mysteries set in Yellowstone to contemporary cutting-edge dramas, it has always been a "stage of dramatic proportions." This exhibit gives visitors a basic introduction to the screen magic that has told many stories.
The natural beauty of Montana, and the Livingston/Park County area in particular, have made it a natural draw for filmmakers since the earliest days of even the silent movies. From early murder mysteries set in Yellowstone to contemporary cutting-edge dramas, it has always been a "stage of dramatic proportions." This exhibit gives visitors a basic introduction to the screen magic that has told many stories.
The Livingston Depot in History and Architecture
Besides being a lively hub of visitors passing back and forth to Yellowstone, the Depot was an unusually elaborate piece of architecture. Learn why the NP wanted to make it a showcase station worthy of important high-end clientele, how it was constructed in a phenomenally short period of time, and how it helped shape the history of the area.
Besides being a lively hub of visitors passing back and forth to Yellowstone, the Depot was an unusually elaborate piece of architecture. Learn why the NP wanted to make it a showcase station worthy of important high-end clientele, how it was constructed in a phenomenally short period of time, and how it helped shape the history of the area.
Rotating Special Exhibits
In addition, we try to vary in every year at least one new exhibit of special interest.
Appearing in 2018: "Pure Quill: Photographs by Barbara Van Cleve"
The Livingston Depot Museum will include for its summer 2018 season, in addition to its regular displays, the special exhibit “Pure Quill: Photographs by Barbara Van Cleve.”
The term pure quill, in the vernacular of the West, means “authentic; real, through and through,” and Van Cleve’s gripping photos of the West lend the expression a sense of authenticity that spans years.
Born and raised on a working cattle and horse ranch in Montana’s Crazy Mountains, Van Cleve has focused her lens across seven decades on the land, sky, men, women, and animals that animate it. In riveting compositions and captivating textures, her photographs replace conventional Hollywood caricatures with a sense of the West’s vibrant personalities and real spirit. The Pure Quill exhibition was generated by the Sweet Grass Arts Alliance in Big Timber, and under the auspices of the Montana Art Gallery Directors Association will tour participating Montana galleries through 2019. In connection with the exhibit, the Depot will also host special events including a presentation by Van Cleve as visiting speaker.
The Livingston Depot Museum will include for its summer 2018 season, in addition to its regular displays, the special exhibit “Pure Quill: Photographs by Barbara Van Cleve.”
The term pure quill, in the vernacular of the West, means “authentic; real, through and through,” and Van Cleve’s gripping photos of the West lend the expression a sense of authenticity that spans years.
Born and raised on a working cattle and horse ranch in Montana’s Crazy Mountains, Van Cleve has focused her lens across seven decades on the land, sky, men, women, and animals that animate it. In riveting compositions and captivating textures, her photographs replace conventional Hollywood caricatures with a sense of the West’s vibrant personalities and real spirit. The Pure Quill exhibition was generated by the Sweet Grass Arts Alliance in Big Timber, and under the auspices of the Montana Art Gallery Directors Association will tour participating Montana galleries through 2019. In connection with the exhibit, the Depot will also host special events including a presentation by Van Cleve as visiting speaker.
If you'd like to read about some of our past special museum exhibits too, just click here.