Build

We are preparing for Phase 2 of construction in anticipation of foundation and structural work beginning this spring. Thank you for your patience as we continue work on this landmark project for the State of Montana!

You will see construction fencing starting on March 15th. The fence will delineate the perimeter of the construction site and entrance into and out of that area will be managed by Sletten Construction. The parking lot to the north of the current Montana Historical Society Building, along Roberts St will be closed for the duration of the project and surrounded by construction fencing. The fence will be used to monitor movement into and out of the site in order to keep the public and those working on the project safe.

If you have questions please call KC FRENCH, Construction Manager for the Department of Administration at 406-444-5337.

This week the construction team will be focused on backfilling the new buried power conduit trench on the North side of the current Montana Historical Society building. There will also be some general site cleanup that is ongoing. Please refrain from passing through the construction area. The snow fence delineates the construction area. Beginning March 15th the site will be fenced with construction fencing and pedestrians will be unable to move through the area.

From a construction perspective, the weather has allowed the team to make significant progress the past few months. Things may change a bit this week. The snow and the temperatures will make some of the utility work challenging. The continued install and tie-in of the new storm drain piping at the closed portion of 6th is the current priority. Work will also move forward on the piping for the new MHS gas service.

There will continue to be work on Sanders to tie-in the stormwater and complete manhole work in the West side of Sanders near 9th, but Sanders will remain open.

There will be ongoing work on the north side of MHS for buried power.

The team will also be preparing for the next phase of work that will require the closure of the Roberts Street Parking lot beginning March 1st. Fiber Optic work will be the next step to prepare the site for foundation work.

North Sanders Street, between 8th and 9th Avenue, will be closed Friday, January 22 until Wednesday, January 27th for Sletten Construction to perform utility work to accommodate the new Montana Heritage Center.

Please refer to the map for the locations of the closures.

This is the construction update for the week of January 11th. The following map highlights the available parking with the current construction. The parking lot to the east of MHS is complete and available for public parking. The ADA parking in front of Fish Wildlife and Parks (FWP) is complete and available. The areas in read are closed due to utility work that is being completed in preparation for the new facility. The parking along Roberts St is currently available for public parking. We will continue to provide updates to the site each week.

“Symbol of the Pros” and “Herd Bull” are some of the most iconic pieces in the State’s care, both weighing over two tons.

In order to get ready for the construction of the Montana Heritage Center, the steel and bronze titans needed to move.

Crews first tackled “Herd Bull” by Sioux artists Benji Daniels.

Measuring 24 feet wide and 7 feet high, the sculpture was created in 1990 with the assistance of Billings artist James Hadcock.

After wrangling “Herd Bull” into place, crews made quick work of “Symbol of the Pros” by the late Browning Artist Bob Scriver.

One of his largest bronzes, the statue stands 17 feet tall and dramatically captures a saddle bronc rider mid-buck.

Upon his passing, Scrivener’s wife donated the massive bronze along with more than 3,000 other pieces.

https://www.ktvh.com/news/a-couple-mhs-heavyweights-find-new-temporary-homes-during-construction

6th Avenue between N Roberts Street and N Sanders Street will close permanently on Tuesday, September 29.

Construction on the new Montana Heritage Center is beginning. In May 2020, the City of Helena voted to approve the closure of this block of 6th Avenue to allow the new Heritage Center to connect to the existing Historical Society building. This street closure will allow the renovation of parking and ADA access in place for Fish, Wildlife and Parks as well as begin work on utilities.

This may affect your regular travel patterns. Please plan accordingly for alternative routes. Directional signage will be posted throughout construction and check montanasmuseum.org for updates.

Learn more about the decision-making process to close this block of 6th Avenue: https://montanamuseum.org/design/news_feed/project-milestone-closure-of-6th-avenue