Montana’s past could fill pages and pages of history books. From our legendary dinosaur trail to our perfectly preserved ghost towns, our history is both lengthy and fascinating. So it’s easy to forget the fact that the iconic Fort Missoula was once used for more than a place to hold relics from the past as a means of preservation. In fact, it’s the former location of a World War II era internment camp.

Fort Missoula is located in southwest Missoula, where it has remained since 1877.

Mark Revers / Flickr Needless to say, the fort has undergone quite a few changes since then.

Currently, Fort Missoula is known as an outdoor museum of sorts, a place to display relics from the past.

Keith Ewing / Flickr Some of the historic buildings are original, but many other things have been brought here to ensure their preservation. The collection of trains and locomotive memorabilia dates back to Montana’s prime railroad days at the turn of the 20th century.

Fort Missoula was established as a permanent military post in 1877 with the purpose of protecting Western Montana from attack… but it soon served a different purpose.

Mark Revers / Flickr During World War II, Fort Missoula was turned over to the Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service for use as a detention center.

From 1941 - 1945, the fort held an estimated 1,200 non-military Italian men and over 1,000 Japanese residents.

Al Huntsman / Wikipedia The Japanese prisoners had been considered prominent members of their communities and were simply being held as potential security risks. The Italians, who referred to Fort Missoula as Camp Bella Vista, worked on area farms and worked in Missoula until they were released in 1944.

None of these World War II POWs were ever convicted of a crime during their time here.

Mark Revers / Flickr After the war, the fort was decommissioned in 1947.

These days, Fort Missoula serves as a historic site and a gathering place for the community.

Forest Service Northern Region / Flickr And while not all of its past moments have been pleasant, it’s still a great place to come to learn about Montana’s history.

Have you ever visited Fort Missoula? Check out the impressive list of historic displays.

Mark Revers / Flickr

Needless to say, the fort has undergone quite a few changes since then.

Keith Ewing / Flickr

Some of the historic buildings are original, but many other things have been brought here to ensure their preservation. The collection of trains and locomotive memorabilia dates back to Montana’s prime railroad days at the turn of the 20th century.

During World War II, Fort Missoula was turned over to the Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service for use as a detention center.

Al Huntsman / Wikipedia

The Japanese prisoners had been considered prominent members of their communities and were simply being held as potential security risks. The Italians, who referred to Fort Missoula as Camp Bella Vista, worked on area farms and worked in Missoula until they were released in 1944.

After the war, the fort was decommissioned in 1947.

Forest Service Northern Region / Flickr

And while not all of its past moments have been pleasant, it’s still a great place to come to learn about Montana’s history.

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Address: Fort Missoula Rd, Missoula, MT 59804, USA