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.
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. There are several opportunities 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.
Additional exhibit sponsorships opportunities are also available.
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
Grand Lobby
Tall timbers tell stories in the Grand Lobby with wood timbers featured from across the nation. The lobby’s construction will use 16 different wood species for support posts. Visitors will learn how these different tree species played a role in the development of the Unites States.
This Opportunity is Spoken For
Entrance Plaza
One seldom forgets their first impression of a place and this is where we’ll begin to shape that image for visitors to our Center. Large enough to serve as a staging area for arriving school and other groups, this space
not only welcomes but also invites the curious visitor to see what lies beyond.
Total Opportunities: 1
Required Contribution: $1,000,000
Main Exhibit Gallery
The Main Exhibit Gallery is the heart of the visitor experience. The Gallery will feature world class interactive and participatory exhibits. Exhibits will honor, educate and inspire our audience and will be exchanged
regularly to maintain relevancy and interest.
Total Opportunities: 1
Required Contribution: $1,000,000
Collections Repository
The Center will provide a permanent, state-of-the-art repository to safely house our permanent collection of artifacts, including documents, photographs, objects and art works.
This Opportunity is Spoken For
Conservation Learning Lab
This multi-purpose room located on the lower level of the Center will serve primarily as a room to inspire learning, featuring state-of-the-art technology and teaching tools. This space will also serve as a meeting room.
Total Opportunities: 1
Required Contribution: $500,000
Research Library & Special Collections
The Library will support the work of the Museum’s staff, scholars and researchers from around the world, as well as interested members of the general public. The Library’s holdings are comprised of a research collection, special collections, and digital collections.
This Opportunity is Spoken For
Oral History Collection & Interview Room
This room is dedicated to collecting oral history interviews for the Museum’s collection. This room will feature leading edge video and audio recording technology for the production of the highest possible quality interviews.
Total Opportunities: 1
Required Contribution: $100,000
Endowed Executive Positions
Named Endowment Funds in support of key staff positions will ensure we continue to attract and retain the best leadership and talent in the history museum field. Named, endowed position funds are invested in perpetuity. The Museum will dedicate the fund earnings to support the work associated with the positions.
Total Opportunities: 4
Required Contribution: $100,000
Forest Discovery Trail
The Forest Discovery Trail offers interactive outdoor learning experiences focusing on America’s conservation history. Self guided tours and educational activities for individuals, classes and families are offered free of charge.
Total Opportunities: 1
Required Contribution: $25,000
We’ll be happy to discuss these 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.
Thanks to Our Funding Partners
Air Tractor
Estate of Richard B. Anderson
Aspen Skiing Company Family Fund
Beaudette Consulting Engineers, Inc.
Bell Helicopter
Ben Meadows Company
Bibb Engineers Architects & Constructors
Big Sky Mobile Catering
Bitterroot Trails, LLC
Boone and Crockett Club
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Foundation
CBP Port of Roosville
Coeur d’Alene Mines Corporation
Devon Energy Corporation
DJ&A, P.C. Consulting Engineers
Eastern Forest Service Retiree Association
Emerald Chapter SAF
The Charles Engelhard Foundation
ESRI
Firewise 2000, Inc.
Forest History Society
Forest Stewardship Concepts
Forestry Suppliers, Inc.
Friends of Smokey Bear Balloon
Great Northern Midstream
Jackson Hole Mountain Resort
Kiewit Power Engineers
Lambda Bioremediation Systems
Los Compadres Retirees Group
Martin J. Lauridson Jr. Trust
Minuteman Aviation Inc.
Mt. Hood Meadows, Oreg., Ltd
National Smokejumper Association
National Wild Turkey Federation
Northern Rocky Mountain Retirees Association
N.P.I., Inc.
The Ohrstrom Family
George L. Ohrstrom, Jr. Foundation
Oregon Society of American Foresters
OZ Architects
Pacific Northwest Forest Service Association “OldSmokeys”
Pacific Southwest FSX Club
The Pack Shack, Inc
Phos-Chek
Rainier Seeds, Inc.
Raley’s Forestry & Wildfire Management
Robwen, Inc.
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Rocky Mountain Forest Service Reunion Association
Royal Gold, Inc.
Safe Fire Program, Inc.
Sentinal Orchards
Sierra Pacific Airlines, Inc.
Ski Apache
Snowbird Renaissance Center
Southern Forest Service Retirees Association
Stillwater Mining Company
Max & Betty Swanson Foundation
Union Pacific Foundation
US Forest Service
Waterous Company
Western Heritage Company
Whitefish Mountain Resort
Wildfire Environmental, USA, Inc.
Wildfire Group
The NMFSH Newsletter
Subscribe today for updates on our Visitor's Center and other stories of forest history and conservation.
Our online newsletter saves trees, but we're still responsible. We'll never spam you.
