5 minute read
amilton
from Vista 2021
Daly Mansion
In 1886, Marcus Daly, an Irish immigrant turned mining Copper King, bought a homestead and built a home for him and his wife just east of Hamilton. The mansion was part of Daly’s 22,000 acre Bitter Root Stock Farm.
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After Daly’s death, his wife Margaret renovated the mansion, with the help of famed Montana architect A.J. Gibson, to its present Georgian-Revival style. The 24,000 square foot, three story mansion has 25 bedrooms, 15 bathrooms and 7 fireplaces. The house was boarded up when Mrs. Daly died in 1941, but was reopened to the public in 1987 after more than $2 million of renovation work was done to the property and grounds.
An arboretum and garden houses more than 400 trees over 26 acres of land. The mansion and grounds now serve as an educational and cultural hub for the preservation of one of Montana’s biggest names.
Tours of the Daly Mansion, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Hamilton Playhouse
For many community members the summer is only complete if it includes a high quality production by the Hamilton Players in their 168-seat intimate community theater.
With their mission of “Putting the spotlight on education, inspiration, and community through the performing arts” the playhouse has two full-length summer productions, camps and workshops for kids and a biennial fundraising gala.
Daly Days
Daly Days, July 30 to July 31, is Hamilton’s annual heritage celebration. The Daly Days Festival, named for the areas famous copper king Marcus Daly, is fun for the entire family.
This year’s event will be held exclusively on the expansive grounds at the Daly Mansion. The Bitterroot Ragtime Society will be the event’s musical guests. There will numerous re-enactors offering insights into the mansion’s historical past.
Bitterroot Aquatic Center
Bitterroot Aquatic Center is a year-round facility, providing fitness classes, competition, water safety and recreational opportunities.
Bitterroot Aquatic Center is at 59 Kurtz Lane in Hamilton. For more information and an up-to-date schedule visit www.bitterrootaquaticcenter@yahoo.com or call 375-8200.
Bitterroot Brewfest Festival
The Bitterroot Chamber of Commerce hold its annual fundraising event in the form of the Bitterroot Chamber Micro Brewfest on July 31 at the Daly Mansion. The festival offers the chance to sample more than 40-types of beer from Montana and the Northwest, several varieties of regional wine and cider, as well as food from local vendors. Live music is provided.
The event coincides with the annual Daly Days celebration.
The 26th annual Brewfest Festival will be held at the Daly mansion. Date and location may be subject to change
More information can be found online at bitterrootchamber.com or call 406-363-2400.
Bitterroot’sBest Breakfastand awholelotmore!
Wesellwholepies!
Hours-6am-10pm•Open7daysaweek 500SouthFirst•Hamilton 363-3822
DARBY,MONTANA•406-821-3405
Hardtimes Bluegrass Festival
The 13th annual Hardtimes Bluegrass Festival, 10 miles south of Hamilton, is on July 23, 24 and 25. This year’s festival features great bands from Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana.
This year’s festival is in a new location up at the end of Forest Hill Road about 15 minutes south of Hamilton. Food vendors on site. Bring your lawn chairs. Bluegrass Gospel on Sunday morning. Band contest. All dogs on leash.
For more information 406-821-3777 or www.hardtimesbluegrass.com
LocallyOwned,CommunityInvolved
ServingtheBitterrootsince1979
VisitYesterday...Today.
photobyBobGiggar VisitthefamilyhomeandgroundsofCopperKingMarcusDaly Toursavailablehourlyfrom11amto3pm
Groundsopentopublic9amto5pm Callaheadtoschedule a guidedtour Call ahead to schedule a guided tour
$15forAdults$14forSeniors&Military $8forChildrenFreefor5years&under
Bitter Root Water Forum Events
Support, clean, and celebrate the Bitterroot River with two days of events August 13 – 14.
The “Run for the River” 5K is a unique race to benefit the Bitter Root Water Forum. The run starts at 7 p.m. on Friday, August 13. The course starts and finishes in River Park in Hamilton and winds along the beautiful Bitterroot River. Come out for this one of a kind experience in the Bitterroot Valley.
Saturday, August 14 is the Bitterroot River Clean Up. Each year volunteers for the Water Forum pull thousands of pounds of trash from the Bitterroot River. Volunteers are assigned stretches of the river from Sula and Painted Rocks to the confluence at the Clark Fork in Missoula. The efforts are rewarded with a volunteer appreciation barbecue 5 to 8 p.m. at River Park in Hamilton.
Volunteers are welcome to help run both events. A variety of tasks and times are available to pick from on both Friday and Saturday. Contact Emilie for more information at bswc.member@brwaterforum.org or 406-375-2272. Register to run and/or clean up at https://www.brwaterforum.org/events. Ravalli County Fair
Held the week before Labor Day weekend, the Ravalli County Fair is the signature end of the summer celebration for the Bitterroot. It is also the largest annual event in the area, drawing in more than 20,000 people every year.
The Ravalli County Fair will be held Sept. 1-4. This realdeal, old-fashioned family-friendly fair is a showcase event for the strong agricultural 4-H programs in the valley, with barns and buildings filled with livestock projects.
There is something for everyone at the fair, including carnival rides and food vendors, with sales going to benefit nonprofit organizations in the community.
The fair features a large display of quilts, photography, baked and canned goods, arts and crafts, as well as a building filled with horticultural and floral displays.
On Friday and Saturday night, it’s usually standing room only during the full gamut of rodeo events, which include a youth invitational, bull riding, team roping, and cowboy bronc rides. The rodeo is included in the gate fee for the fair. To make sure the event is as family-friendly as possible the fair is a dry event. See https://ravalli.us/200/Fairgrounds for more details, or call 406-363-3411. V
