St. Mary's Mission

St. Mary's Mission is a cluster of log buildings in Stevensville, Montana, including a chapel, pharmacy, and visitor center that together form a historic complex. The grounds also contain a museum displaying artifacts and exhibits that document daily life and the interactions between different communities at this location.

The mission was established in 1841 by Jesuit priest Father Pierre Jean De Smet and became the first permanent non-indigenous settlement in Montana. This founding marked a turning point for the Salish people and the broader region.

The mission grounds reveal how Salish traditions and European practices coexist in the same space through the arrangement of burial sites and Chief Victor's home. Walking through these areas, visitors observe the physical traces of two worlds meeting and living alongside each other.

The grounds are open to visitors from April through October, allowing you to explore the buildings and museum at your own pace. Wear comfortable shoes, as you will walk between structures spread across the property and may spend time examining both buildings and outdoor sites.

Two original apple trees still stand on the grounds as living witnesses to agricultural practices introduced by Jesuits in the 1800s. These trees demonstrate how long-lasting certain changes in a landscape can be.