Fort Missoula was established by the US Army in 1877 during the Nez Perce War and remained in active use until the 1940s. The Historical Museum at Fort Missoula now occupies part of the original grounds and tells several layers of Montana history — the fort's military past, the story of the 25th Infantry "Buffalo Soldiers" who were stationed here in the 1890s, and the darker history of the fort's use as an internment camp for Italian and Japanese civilians during the Second World War.
The outdoor exhibits include a collection of historic buildings — a blacksmith shop, a schoolhouse, and a forestry ranger station among them — relocated to the grounds from around western Montana. The indoor museum has extensive displays on Native American and settler history.
The fort is about 4 kilometres southwest of downtown Missoula, accessible by car. Open Tuesday through Sunday, May through October; reduced hours in winter. The grounds are free; the museum has an admission fee.