National Conservation Legacy Center
Creating a state-of-the-art showcase to tell America’s conservation story
The National Conservation Legacy Center will be a world class museum – a cultural and learning center to better understand our conservation history. Our exhibits will feature state of the art participatory and immersion experiences with educational activities and events to inspire our visitors to engage and understand the conservation of America’s natural resources – reflecting upon Gifford Pinchot’s guiding principle, “provide the greatest good for the greatest amount of people in the long run.”
Participatory museums work with constituents and visitors to make cultural institutions more dynamic, relevant, and essential places. The goal of participatory exhibitory is both to meet visitors’ expectations for active engagement and to do so in a way that furthers the mission and core values of the Museum.
Immersion exhibits create a multi-sensory experience which pulls visitors out of the passive, one-dimensional museum viewing ritual and transport them to a different time, place or situation where they become active participants in what they encounter.
Since 1905, the U.S. Forest Service has been making history as America’s first conservation agency. However, over the course of its 100+ year history, there has never been one central location where the people can learn and enjoy this history.
There is no central repository where artifacts could be preserved, researched and displayed. There has not been one central exhibition hall where the stories and lessons could be shared with the public, where the leaders, partners, and people whose stories are our history could be recognized and shared.
Conservation of the forests and grasslands of the United States forms an unparalleled heritage for the American people and the world. It’s a story about the dedicated people who created much more than a government agency, they fostered new ways of thinking about our country’s resources and the stewardship of public lands. It’s time to preserve and share this story of national accomplishment- America’s Conservation Legacy.
The National Conservation Legacy Center will provide a world class, one of a kind facility for all to learn and enjoy this rich and uniquely American conservation history. We will continually look for ways to engage with our visitors and partners so that we can learn from the past and therefore foster a better understanding of the conservation challenges of today and future generations. Your donation will be used to fund the construction and infrastructure of the building and exhibits in addition to the costs to manage the campaign until it is completed.
Please call for more information, we are happy to answer your questions!
Leave a Lasting Legacy
FURTHER OUR MISSION BY PLEDGING YOUR SUPPORT TO THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
Once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to name the physical spaces within the new National Conservation Legacy and Education Center. These naming opportunities are offered in grateful recognition of leadership gifts from the Museum’s most generous supporters.
One opportunity is still available to honor your family or business name, honor or memorialize an individual, or to associate your foundation, corporation, or partnership with the history of America’s Conservation Legacy.
The Center
This incredibly diverse space is uniquely suited to our mission to Share the Rich History and Stories of America’s Conservation Legacy. Our interactive, world class exhibits will inspire visitors to explore America’s conservation history through hands-on learning experiences. A tremendous opportunity for your name to be attached to the Center which will be a prominent landmark in the community.
Total Opportunities: 1
Required Contribution: $5,000,000
We’ll be happy to discuss this and other customized naming designations.
For more information, please contact our office at 406.541.6374
Green Building Design
The Center will be an exhibit in and of itself, demonstrating the use of innovative wood products and showcasing the role of the Forest Service in their research and development. A theme of “Bringing the Past Forward” will guide a visitor journey through historic building techniques, such as hand-crafted timber framing to today’s CLT automation. The design will be appropriate to the landscape and will anchor a site masterplan design. We will create a showcase for sustainable green building for a better world: Leading by example
The green building design of the Center will showcase the Forest Service’s contributions to renewable resource conservation and education and will be a model green building for the Missoula community, the state of Montana, and the nation.
The Missoula Campus
The Visitor’s Center
The Bungalow Ranger Station Cabin was moved from Clearwater National Forest in Idaho. Today it is our Visitor’s Center and a temporary place for exhibits. When the NCLE Center is complete, this historic building will be refurnished to pay tribute to the role families played in the development of the Forest Service.
Fire Lookout
The L-4 Fire Lookout is based on 1930’s era plans. It was originally a display for the Smithsonian’s Folk Life Festival, celebrating the US Forest Service Centennial in 2005. It is an iconic symbol of individual heroism in wildfire management, and a reminder that the extreme forces of nature and the behavior of mankind can — in an instant — dramatically change the landscape.
Memorial Grove & Champion Trees
The Memorial Grove trees have been planted to honor the contributions of individuals nominated through the Honor Roll program. The Champion Trees planted on the grounds share the DNA of the nation’s greatest trees — groves like these are planted at selected sites throughout the nation to protect them from loss to fire, insects, drought and the acts of man.
The Visitor’s Center
The Bungalow Ranger Station Cabin was moved from Clearwater National Forest in Idaho. Today it is our Visitor’s Center and a temporary place for exhibits. When the NCLE Center is complete, this historic building will be refurnished to pay tribute to the role families played in the development of the Forest Service.
Fire Lookout
The L-4 Fire Lookout is based on 1930’s era plans. It was originally a display for the Smithsonian’s Folk Life Festival, celebrating the US Forest Service Centennial in 2005. It is an iconic symbol of individual heroism in wildfire management, and a reminder that the extreme forces of nature and the behavior of mankind can — in an instant — dramatically change the landscape.
Memorial Grove & Champion Trees
The Memorial Grove trees have been planted to honor the contributions of individuals nominated through the Honor Roll program. The Champion Trees planted on the grounds share the DNA of the nation’s greatest trees — groves like these are planted at selected sites throughout the nation to protect them from loss to fire, insects, drought and the acts of man.
Nearby Attractions
The NMFSH’s neighbors are the Missoula International Airport, the Smokejumper Visitor Center, USFS Fire Sciences Laboratory, and Museum of Mountain Flying. Please be sure to visit them when you make plans to explore the National Conservation Legacy & Education Center!
With new matching grant opportunities, every dollar donated can attract $3 in public support, $2 in foundation grants and $1 in corporate contributions. That’s $6 for every $1 you contribute. Your support can make a big difference! Help us build the National Conservation Legacy Center and preserve the Forest Service legacy.