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amilton
from Vista 2020
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Hamilton is the largest town in the Bitterroot Valley and the hub of its activities.
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In the early 1890s, Marcus Daly, who made a fortune in copper mining in Butte, brought in two town planners to lay out what would become the town of Hamilton. The town was named after one of the planners, James Hamilton. The other planner, Robert O’Hara, became the town’s first mayor.
The Daly Mansion built by Marcus and later renovated after his death by his wife, sits just east of the town. The mansion’s grounds are the setting for several events during the year as well as being open for tours.
Hamilton holds events all year round, but their frequency and size ramp up during the summer. The Ravalli County Fair brings in more than 20,000 people each year. Hamilton has a lively downtown, a strong arts community, and is the perfect jumping off point for a trip in the Bitterroot.
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Blodgett Canyon
Blodgett Canyon is one of the most picturesque areas of the Bitterroot. To get a great view of it and the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, hike the three-mile round trip Blodgett Overlook Trail. Blodgett Canyon is often referred to as Montana’s Yosemite.
To get to the trailhead, go west on Main Street in Hamilton past where it becomes West Bridge Road. Turn left of Blodgett Camp Road and look for the signs for the Canyon Creek Trailhead.
Bitter Root Humane Association
The Bitter Root Humane Association provides caring, compassionate shelter and enrichment for homeless companion animals, finds loving lifelong homes, reunites
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pets and owners, promotes population control, and advocates for all animals.
Circle 13 Skatepark
Constructed in the fall of 2018, the Circle 13 Skatepark is a wonderful addition to Claudia Driscoll Park, located at 200 N 10th Street in Hamilton. The park provides a healthy, active space for skaters of all ages and abilities. Located next to a playground, picnic tables, and open space, it’s a great space for families.
Ravalli County Museum
The Ravalli County Museum in Hamilton contains many exhibits featuring local history and beyond.
The building the museum was in was designed by the Montana architect A.J. Gibson in 1900 and served as the county courthouse until 1979. The brick building is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Signature events include Ernst Peterson Photo Contest, Bitter Root Day, McIntosh Apple Day, Liquid Cider Night, Ghost Tours: Paranormal Investigations, Veteran’s Day Ceremony, Gallery of Trees and A Cowboy Christmas.
An Antique Auction will be held on July 25 from 1 to 5 p.m. The auction features antiques and collectibles donated by local patrons. Nothing from local collection is included in the sale.
McIntosh Apple Day, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., on Oct. 3 is called the Biggest Bake Sale Under the Big Sky and features produce from local farmers as well as food arts and crafts from around the Bitterroot
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and beyond. Highlights include a bake sale including more than 600 made-fromscratch apple pies, apple butter, pork with apple chutney, caramel apples, apple cider, and fresh apples.
Liquid Apple Night, from 5-9 p.m. on Oct. 3, is the relaxing and refreshing evening under the stars to close out Apple Day. Sample delicious hard cider created by cider makers from the Rocky Mountain northwest, while enjoying local food and music. You must be 21 or older to participate. This is a ticketed event.
Ghost Tours: Paranormal Investigations, from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. Oct 17,24,31 and 26. Become a paranormal investigator for the night - gathering evidence and exploring rooms in the museum that are not on the regular tour. The event is done in the dark, with flashlights and special ghost hunting equipment. Bring your own camera. Local Intuitive, Sarah Monson, will also be on hand for readings throughout the evening. Tickets will be available in September. Children age 14 to 18 must be accompanied by an adult. No one under 14 admitted.
Veteran’s Day Observance Ceremony and Gallery of Trees Opening, Monday, Nov. 2.
In honor of our Veterans, Ravalli County Museum hosts an annual observance. A silent auction of stunning trees decorated by local businesses and organizations will open on the same day. Choose from a wide variety of both tradition and patriotic
trees. Bid on a tree that can be given to a deserving person or for a veteran family currently serving in the military!
A Cowboy Christmas, Dec. 4, features live music, cowboy poetry and the conclusion of our Christmas tree silent auction.
The Ravalli County Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday and hosts children’s programming during Farmers Market on Saturdays 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. which runs May through October. For more information call 406-363-3338 or visit online at www.ravallimuseum.org.
Daly Mansion
In 1886, Marcus Daly, an Irish immigrant turned mining Copper King, bought a
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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.
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
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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.
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Concert Series (Dominic will write) Sapphire Lutheran Homes will celebrate the summer of 2020 with their Eighth Annual Summer Concert Series and Shakespeare in the Parks.
Daly Days
Daly Days, July 27, 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.
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Bitterroot Aquatic Center
Bitterroot Aquatic Center is a year-round facility, providing fitness classes, competition, water safety and recreational opportunities.
The summer’s 2020 swim lessons are scheduled to begin on July 6th. Three sessions are planned. 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 Secret Garden Tour
The 2020 tour celebrates the 6th anniversary of combining instant gratification with longer-term charitable community investment.
The instant gratification is two-fold, tickets come packaged in a re-useable canvas garden-goodie bag filled with coupons, seed packets and other small gifts designed specifically for gardeners and participants tour six quite diverse, lovely and local gardens.
The longer-term community investment is that the majority of proceeds are donated to a local non-profit. This year, the Ravalli County Museum will receive up to a $5,000 donation.
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This year the tour features the six gardens and land- scapes of Jan and Alan Abel, Joanie and Dan Huls, Lisa and Andy Kehmeier, Nanette and Greg Seltzer and Judi and David Vannatta.
The Secret Garden Tour happens on July 18, tick- ets go on sale on May 1 and often sell out quickly. Tickets cost $40 each and are available at Moeller’s Nursery, Cooks’ Gardens, Bitterroot Nursery, K&S Greenhouses and Chapter One Book Store
For more information visit online facebook.com/ BitterrootSecretGardenTour.
Bitterroot Brewfest Festival
Every year, the Bitterroot Chamber of Commerce holds a fundraising event in the form of the Bitterroot Chamber Micro Brewfest at the end of July. The fes- tival offers the chance to sample more than 40-types of beer from Montana and the Northwest, several vari- eties of regional wine and cider, as well as food from local vendors. Live music is provided.
The event coincides with the annual Daly Days cel- ebration.
The 26th annual Brewfest
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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.
Hardtimes Bluegrass Festival
The 12th annual Hardtimes Bluegrass Festival, 10 miles south of Hamilton, is on July 24, 25 and 26. 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. Admission: adults for weekend-$30, kids (6 to 12 years) $15, adult day pass Friday or Saturday - $20, Sunday only - $15, children day pass Friday or Saturday - $10 and Sunday only $7. Dry camping $25 for weekend.
For more information 406-821-3777 or www.hardtimesbluegrass.com
Bitter Root Water Forum Events
Support, clean, and celebrate the Bitterroot River with two days of events August 9 – 10.
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 7. The course starts and finishes in River Park in Hamilton and winds along the
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beautiful Bitterroot River. Come out for this one of a kind experience in the Bitterroot Valley.
Saturday, August 8 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. 2-5. This real-deal, old-fashioned familyfriendly fair is a showcase event for the strong agricultural 4-H programs in the valley, with barns and buildings filled with live-
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stock 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 familyfriendly as possible the fair is a dry event. See https://ravalli.us/200/Fairgrounds for more details, or call 406-363-3411.
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