The Museum at Central School in Kalispell is home to a life-sized photo of Bob Marshall in a new display that commemorates the 1.5 million-acre wilderness complex bearing his name.
The museum is featuring a new exhibit on Marshall and the opening reception is April 9 from 5-7 p.m. Admission is free.
Marshall was the founder of the Wilderness Society and instrumental in forming the Wilderness Act, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year.
The centerpiece of the display is a historic trail camp complete with antique camping gear, tools used in building the original wilderness trails, and remnants from the oldest surviving phone line in the U.S.
The exhibit also features a series of historic photos of crews constructing trails in the “Bob.” The historic photos are juxtaposed with current Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation crews working on trail maintenance, weed eradication, and historic preservation in the wilderness.
The exhibit provides a brief history of the Foundation, recognizes its many partners, and explains how to volunteer for wilderness work. The exhibit will remain at the Museum for one year.
The Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation is a locally based nonprofit organization dedicated to providing wilderness stewardship opportunities in the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex. The Foundation puts boots on the ground to keep trails open, eradicate noxious weeds, monitor ecosystem health, and engages youth and adults in life-changing backcountry experiences.