Montana Territorial Centennial Commission

The Montana Territorial Centennial Commission was created as a special department of the Montana state government by the legislature in 1961 for "the sole purpose of providing a dignified, significant celebration during the full year of 1964 commemorating creation of the territory as well as honoring 75 years of statehood by and for the people of Montana." The Commission was composed of an executive committee which included Governor Tim Babcock; L.W. Upshaw of Great Falls as chairman; Ted Mannix of Deer Lodge as vice chairman; Michael Kennedy, director of the Montana Historical Society, as secretary; Robert D. Corette of Butte; Lyle Downing of Helena; Howard Kelsey of Gallatin Gateway; Lloyd G. Schermer of Missoula; and others. The Commission, a non-profit organization, created a "master plan" for the centennial year and presented it to the legislature in 1963 requesting funds to finance the program. An appropriation of $200,000 was approved for the state-wide celebration. In addition, a campaign to raise funds from private sources was also instigated and a quota system established that requested each county to donate "a nickel per capita," or five cents for each resident. The Commission organized the state into 1112 major areas" for planning and coordination of state-wide events, and then encouraged other counties and communities to plan local events for their own vicinity. Several major events were organized for the centennial year. The Montana Centennial Band and a float entitled "Big Sky Country" were entered in the 1964 Tournament of Roses Parade in California to kick off the year-long celebration. A major theatrical production entitled "The Montana Story" was produced and promoted by the Rogers Company of Ohio and booked to play in cities around the state. The Montana Centennial Train, equipped with four exhibit cars, traveled through Montana in February 1964, and then in the spring journeyed to New York City where it was on display in the Montana Pavilion of the World's Fair. A Centennial Music Committee was formed, chaired by Dr. Luther Richman of Montana State University in Missoula, and was in charge of a music festival around the state, production of the Indian opera "Poia," programs of original music about Montana written by Montanans, and other musical events. A contest was held to crown Miss Montana Centennial. The Governor's Centennial Ball was held in Helena on May 26 in conjunction with a re-enactment of President Abraham Lincoln's signing the Organic Act of 1864 which created Montana Territory. In addition to events, the Commission also designed and promoted a number of commemorative products for the centennial. These included firearms (Colt .45 and .22), decals, a cookbook, plates, napkins, and placemats, coins and medallions, and an official centennial publication entitled Montana, Big Sky Country which was edited by Michael Kennedy. The Commission was also sucessful in having a commemorative U.S. postage stamp honoring western artist Charles M. Russell produced. The celebration for 1965, which was the seventy-fifth anniversary of Montana's statehood, was much smaller than the territorial centennial festivities. The Montana exhibit continued at the New York World's Fair, the historical exhibits from the Montana Centennial Train were shown in Europe, and another float was entered in the Tournament of Roses Parade in January 1966. The final meeting of the Montana Territorial Centennial Commission was held on April 20, 1966.