President's Message 
The Montana History Foundation is working tirelessly to preserve and protect Montana’s history.
This fiscal year we supported new projects like preservation work on the Frank Bird Linderman cabin in Southwest Montana, funding a sound system for the tour train in Virginia City, and granting funds for historic lighting on the Fort Benton Bridge. We also sponsored speakers at the History Day festivities in Billings, Original Governor’s Mansion fundraising activities, and we lent our fundraising expertise to organizations large and small.
MHF continues to provide annual support to the Virginia City History Camp, music machine repair and maintenance in Virginia City, the Montana Historical Society’s History Conference, and Advocacy Day support to the Museums Association of Montana.
In addition to our project funding priorities, we also took the time this fiscal year to think long and hard about our own future.
Along with another clean audit, including high praise from our independent auditor, we created long-term fund accounts to maintain our office headquarters at the Scriver Center in Helena and the McFarland Curatorial Center in Virginia City. These accounts are rainy day funds that allow us to perform preventative maintenance to our properties…something we have learned from the historic properties we assist with… maintenance deferred translates to larger problems later.
We reorganized our office to meet best practices and better accommodate our goal of having more of a presence in Montana’s communities. Establishing a new strategic plan in May 2010, we have ignited a passion for our new paradigm in funding historical projects in Montana. Working quietly with the Montana Preservation Alliance and the National Trust for Historic Preservation to establish a granting fund called the Preserve Montana Fund, we have already drawn the support of many donors and we have raised $560,000 to date.
As our vision gains further focus and momentum, we will be sharing the exciting details with you, our donors. Here at MHF we are excited about all the possibilities that await us as we are out and about in Montana. With your support we are up to the challenge!
Bruce Parker, President