Unseen Missoula Historic Downtown Guided Walking Tours!

Unseen Missoula, a program of Heritage Missoula from the Downtown Missoula Partnership, offers education-based, guided walking tours to showcase Missoula’s unique history. The goals are to help Missoulians and their guests connect to our community, foster cultural identity, and promote our heritage experiences for all.

More than 1,400 people have enjoyed the guided walking tours, and thousands more connected to the program through social media since its inception in 2018. The season begins in April and continues through October. Experience Missoula’s heritage through these unique and excited guided walking tours! The Unseen Missoula Program is currently comprised of two main tours: Basements & Back Alleys & Hotels & Hooligans. Experience Missoula’s heritage through these unique and excited guided walking tours!

*Tour research and writing was provided in part by the work of graduate and undergraduate students in Public History course at the University of Montana offered by the Department of History and the Davidson Honors College.*

Buy Tickets Here!

Thank You to the Unseen Missoula Sponsors!

                                          

Preserve Historic Missoula

Basements & Back Alleys

April - October

Hotels & Hooligans

April - October

Pedal Through the Past

May - Preservation & Bike Month!

Heritage Missoula

A Program Developed From the Heritage Interpretive Plan

Meet Our Amazing Tour Guides!

Charley Macorn

They/She
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Charley Macorn is a nationally touring, award-winning standup comedian and drag performer. Charley has undergraduate degrees in History, Women's, Gender, Sexuality Studies, and African American Studies as well as a Master's degree in Media, all from the University of Montana.  When not touring the country, they make their home in the City of Many Shoulders, Missoula, Montana.

Leif Fredrickson

He/Him
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Leif Fredrickson teaches history at the University of Montana. He's a member of the Historic Preservation Commission and the Friends of the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula. With some other Montanans, he created the podcast Death in the West. When he's not being a history nerd, he's being a plant nerd.

Emma Sieh

She/Her
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My name is Emma Sieh and I am the Curator of Collections at the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula. I moved to Missoula from Maine in October 2020 for my new job and I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the area these last few months. I used to give haunted history tours for a town in Maine for a few years, so I was delighted to join my colleagues from HMFM in doing Unseen Missoula tours. I learn something new on every tour I take from my fellow tour guides and I hope you can too!

Heritage Missoula Newsletter

Want to be in the know about upcoming tours and heritage happenings? Sign up for the Heritage Missoula Newsletter!

Unseen Missoula FAQ’s

  1. How many tours are there?
    • Currently, we have THREE TOURS! One is focused on historic buildings south of Broadway (Basements & Back Alleys), another is focused on historic buildings north of Broadway (Hotels & Hooligans) while the other tour is centered around the seeing the history of Missoula on a bicycle (Pedal Through the Past).
  2. Can I reserve a spot on the Unseen Missoula tours?
  3. Where do we meet?
    • The Basement & Back Alleys and the Pedal Through the Past tours will meet a few minutes before the tour start time in Caras Park near the Carousel.
    • The Hotels & Hooligans tour meets a few minutes before the tour begins at the statue of Captain John Mullan by the XXXXs.
  4. Can I get something to eat or drink before, on, or after the tour?
  5. Where do I park?
  6. How many tickets can I buy?
    • You can buy as many as you’d like, depending on availability. Our capacity for these tours are 12-14 (depending on the tour), so if you have a group larger than 10 we can get scheduled for a private tour. Please contact (406) 543-4238 to schedule a private tour.
    • *Due to COVID-19 Restrictions, our tour sizes are now being capped at 8 people per person.*
  7. What if I need to cancel? Can I get a refund?
    • We understand that things come up! We will refund the purchaser up to 24 hours before the tour. If there is an extreme circumstance, please call our offices at (406) 543-4238
    • *Due to COVID-19 Precautions, we are now offering refunds up until the tour time and date. We hope all attendees reach out if there are any symptoms showing in any of the attendees.
  8. What if my kid is under 2 – do they have to pay?
    • Kiddos under 2 years of age get to come along for free!
    • This does not apply to the Pedal Through the Past tour.
  9. What are the prices?
    • Ticket prices are $10 for all individuals.
  10. How long are the tours?
    • The tours are approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes long and cover about a mile and a half on foot.

Unseen Missoula Guidelines

  • Silence cell phones
  • No pets
  • Tell guide if you need to leave the tour
  • Wear comfortable walking shoes
  • Stay with the guide
  • Have the best time ever!

More Missoula Tours!

Montgomery Distillery Tasting and Tour
Lewis & Clark Trail Adventures – Trail Tours (River Pub)
Thirst Gear – Group Bike & Brewery Tour
MT Shuttle – Brewery Tours

Unseen Missoula // September 2017

In September 2017, during Missoula in Motion’s Walk & Roll Week, the Missoula Historic Preservation Commission hosted a one-time tour called the “Unseen Missoula” tour which featured three of Missoula’s historic locations – the Underground Steam Tunnels, a Cold War Era bomb shelter, and The Bluebird Theater. The Historic Preservation Commission expected a turn-out of approximately 75 participants however over one thousand Missoulians came out to take this tour. See what started it all below!

Contact Unseen Missoula

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