Hidden Gems in Deer Lodge: 3 Museums You Can't Miss

The Old Montana Prison is Right in Town

Walking distance from Junction House, the Old Montana Prison Museum is one of Deer Lodge's most fascinating attractions. Built in 1871, this prison housed Montana's most notorious inmates for over a century.

What to See

The museum features preserved cell blocks, guard towers, and exhibits on prison life. The highlight? The prison's last execution chamber and the stories of infamous inmates like Paul Tappert.

Frontier Montana Museum

Right next door, this museum showcases frontier life with a massive collection of vintage carriages, old west artifacts, and a working blacksmith shop.

Don't Miss the Auto Museum

Also on the same complex, the Montana Auto Museum has over 150 classic cars from the 1900s to the 1970s. It's one of the best car collections in the Pacific Northwest!

Hours: 9am–6pm daily, May through October.