Financials

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link
Dennis Washington speaks about the importance of preserving our history and telling our stories during the May

Industrialist Dennis Washington speaks about the importance of giving back during the Montana Heritage Center Topping Out Ceremony in May of 2022.

The Montana Heritage Center is being funded by a combination of private and public contributions. No Montana property taxes are paying for this project. As a tourism destination, a small portion (1%) of the state's accommodation tax is the primary funding mechanism. In addition, the Montana Historical Society is raising private dollars from individual donors, corporate gifts, and foundation support. Read below for more details on how the Montana Heritage Center project is being supported by the state of Montana, our state's visitors and guests, and by private dollars.

Private Funding: The Montana Historical Society is committed to raising $60M in private funding for the Montana Heritage Center to enhance exhibits and visitor experiences. As of 2023, MTHS raised more than $57.2 million from individual donors and foundations. You can learn about the most significant gifts to date by visiting our Donors page.

Public Funding:

The 59th Montana Legislature (2005) passed House Bill 5, which granted the Montana Historical Society authority to seek private donations, and House Bill 540, which authorized $7.5 million in general obligation bonds, for the Montana Historical Society building project. These funds allowed initial planning to move forward, but they were not sufficient to finalize designs or to begin construction. There is currently $5.5 million in reserve from this initial allocation to put toward design and construction. In 2019, the 66th Montana Legislature passed the bipartisan Senate Bill 338 (The Montana Museums Act of 2020) and House Bill 5, which added approximately $37 million in funding from Montana’s accommodations tax. The Act also provides grants to local museums and cultural institutions across the state. In 2021, the 67th Montana Legislature passed House Bill 2, which added another $3.2 million in funding from the accommodations tax, for a total of $45.7 million. As of August 2023, the project's estimated price tag is $104 million.

*Individual Donors listed as of July 2023. If you would like more information on how to donate or your recognition, please contact MTHSDevelopment@mt.gov or call 406-444-4013.

Industrialist Dennis Washington speaks about the importance of giving back during the Montana Heritage Center Topping Out Ceremony in May of 2022.

The Montana Heritage Center is being funded by a combination of private and public contributions. No Montana property taxes are paying for this project. As a tourism destination, a small portion (1%) of the state's accommodation tax is the primary funding mechanism. In addition, the Montana Historical Society is raising private dollars from individual donors, corporate gifts, and foundation support. Read below for more details on how the Montana Heritage Center project is being supported by the state of Montana, our state's visitors and guests, and by private dollars.

Private Funding: The Montana Historical Society is committed to raising $60M in private funding for the Montana Heritage Center to enhance exhibits and visitor experiences. As of 2023, MTHS raised more than $57.2 million from individual donors and foundations. You can learn about the most significant gifts to date by visiting our Donors page.

Public Funding:

The 59th Montana Legislature (2005) passed House Bill 5, which granted the Montana Historical Society authority to seek private donations, and House Bill 540, which authorized $7.5 million in general obligation bonds, for the Montana Historical Society building project. These funds allowed initial planning to move forward, but they were not sufficient to finalize designs or to begin construction. There is currently $5.5 million in reserve from this initial allocation to put toward design and construction. In 2019, the 66th Montana Legislature passed the bipartisan Senate Bill 338 (The Montana Museums Act of 2020) and House Bill 5, which added approximately $37 million in funding from Montana’s accommodations tax. The Act also provides grants to local museums and cultural institutions across the state. In 2021, the 67th Montana Legislature passed House Bill 2, which added another $3.2 million in funding from the accommodations tax, for a total of $45.7 million. As of August 2023, the project's estimated price tag is $104 million.

*Individual Donors listed as of July 2023. If you would like more information on how to donate or your recognition, please contact MTHSDevelopment@mt.gov or call 406-444-4013.

Page last updated: 22 Aug 2023, 03:17 PM