The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Interpretive Center in Great Falls will waive general admission fees in January and February to encourage visitation and accessibility.
“We want folks to experience the Interpretive Center,” said Acting Center Manager Jeff LaRock. “Fee free months help make the exhibits more accessible, and January and February are good months to get in from the cold for a few hours and see what the Interpretive Center has to offer.”
Starting Jan. 4, the center, at 4201 Giant Springs Road, will open fee-free from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, and from 12 – 5 p.m. on Sunday. It will offer its standard schedule of orientation videos, access to our main exhibit space, and access to the trails and grounds around the building. The center will still charge standard tuition for school groups that come for formal education programs and for commercial tour groups.
Since 1998, the center has displayed the spirit of exploration embodied by the 1804-1806 noLewis and Clark Expedition through western North America and their interactions with Plains and Northwest Indians. Each year, 48,000 visitors engage in live programs with park rangers and special presenters, walk interpretive trails, explore 6,000 square feet of hands-on exhibits, view movies directed by acclaimed filmmaker Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan or Gray Warriner or take an optional audio tour in any of five languages.
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The center is managed by the USDA Forest Service. To slow the spread of COVID-19, masks are now required for all visitors. Call us at (406) 727-8733 or visit https://go.usa.gov/xezH8 for more information.
Oltrogge to lead ranger district
Jason Oltrogge
Jason Oltrogge will lead the Judith Musselshell Ranger District, the eastern most district on the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest.
“Jason’s understanding of the unique landscape on the east end of our Forest as well as his connection to Harlowton, Stanford and the surrounding communities will make him a great leader for the district,” Forest Supervisor Bill Avey said in a news release. “He has already done great work to navigate the district through several late season human-caused fires this fall.”
He has been serving in the role since October.
Oltrogge holds a bachelor of science degree from the University of Wyoming. He launched his career as a trail crew volunteer with the Forest Service in 1990 on the Bridger-Teton National Forest before accepting a range specialist position on the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest. Since October 2006, he has served on the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest supporting the range programs for both the Rocky Mountain and Judith Musselshell ranger districts.
Oltrogge lives with his wife, Mindy, in Stanford where they raised …….