In 1898 Charles M. Bair left his wife, Mary, and their two young daughters in Montana while he traveled to the Yukon to sell his permafrost thawing invention to the gold miners. He may not have made much money from the invention but buying and selling gold claims made him wealthy enough to purchase a large ranch in Martinsdale, Montana. Investments in oil, mining, banking and real estate added to the family’s wealth and allowed Mary Bair and her daughters Marguerite and Alberta to amass a large collection of western paintings, Native American artwork, and antiques. 
The two daughters lived in the house after their parents died and added to the collections, even remodeling the house with additional rooms to hold everything. Neither woman had children so they decided to leave the house and all of their collections to the state of Montana. Alberta, the last of the family, died in 1993 and the house was opened as the Bair Family Museum in 1996. The property is still a working sheep and cattle ranch. The family legacy includes a trust fund that pays for upkeep on the property, scholarships for local students, and grants to charities.
Gold plated bathroom fixtures
1950s kitchen
The parking lot is large enough for RVs. Museum 46.46546, -110.31807
Wow, what a place! It's nice when a family turns their treasures into a museum, rather than let everything fritter away. This one looks like fun.
ReplyDeleteAnd only five dollars admission! Three dollars for us oldsters.;-D
DeleteOur tour guide was a 16 year old local kid who was great. He really studied up on everything and could answer all of our questions. Hope he gets a scholarship!