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e flyer for the Holt Heritage Mu-
seum beckons visitors to "Enjoy a Lifetime
Collection of Rodeo and Indian Artifacts"
in a museum dedicated to "Cowboys
and Indians — Rodeos and Pow Wows."
True, much like the Traveler's Rest Visitor
Center, the Holt Heritage Museum offers
an incredible array of valuable western
and Indian artworks and artifacts. But
that's really only the beginning. What sets
the Holt Heritage Museum apart from
any other museum is its stories — rich,
detailed, personal stories that bring each
piece of art and each historical item alive
with meaning and context. Holt Museum
visitors do not wander about on their own,
but rather they are personally guided by
museum owners, Bill and Ramona Holt.
It may seem an oxymoron to call a cou-
ple "Renaissance Ranchers;" yet that term
best describes the Holts. eir interests,
talents, and life experiences span multiple
disciplines, from the sciences to the arts
to cattle breeding. As a veterinarian, Bill
volunteered as an official for the Alaska
Iditarod dog sled race. As the first woman
HOLT HERITAGE MUSEUM
The Incredible
L
OCATED ALONG HIGHWAY 12 AND DIRECTLY ACROSS THE HIGHWAY FROM
THE ENTRANCE TO TRAVELER'S REST STATE PARK IN LOLO, MONTANA, IS
THE HOLT HERITAGE MUSEUM. Long before archeologists positively identified the
site of Lewis and Clark's most famous camping site, Bill and Ramona Holt owned the land for
their H Bar R Ranch, which specialized in longhorn cattle. Upon learning the significance of
the site, the Holts actively worked with the state by donating and/or selling land, visitor center
facilities, and historical artifacts to ensure the site's preservation and public significance.
by S U Z A N N E M I L L E R
photos by B R Y O N Y S C H WA N
