The Rialto was originally owned and operated by Danish-born Jens Hansen Sr. It appears he had already owned at least two movie theaters in Deer Lodge. In order to build the Rialto, Hansen partnered with a man named Peter Pauley. The theater was built when films were becoming more popular than traveling vaudeville acts, so it was designed for both. It originally had 720 seats, an organ, and an orchestra pit. In the coming years, Hansen made improvements to the theater, such as installing new equipment. He managed the theater until he passed away in 1959 and his son, Jens Hansen Jr., took over.The family owned the theater until 1995 when the Rialto Community Theatre, Inc. bought it. Unfortunately, in 2004 a fire destroyed much of the interior but the exterior facade, stage area, and six original 1921 backdrops were saved. It took until 2012 complete the restoration process. The Rialto was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.

The Rialto Theater was built in 1921 and has remained an important part of the community ever since.

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As Powell County's only auditorium, the Rialto Theater has been an important cultural and performing arts center for the community since it opened in 1921. Its architecture is also adds to its significance. Designed in the Beaux-Arts, "movie palace" style, the theater features a glazed-brick asymmetrical facade; a two-story pavilion serving as the main entrance that has decorative terra cotta shields and columns topped with Corinthian capitals; oval stained glass windows; terra cotta garlands; and red clay tiles on the roof. Over the years, the theater has hosted numerous plays and concerts as well a variety of events including dances, conferences, movies, and funerals. It remains a vital part of community life in the county.

Rialto Theater

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While Deer Lodge's population might be small, this Montana community has much to offer for those who enjoy history. This tour begins at the Last Spike Monument commemorating the completion of the Puget Sound extension of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad. The tour then moves on to several museums collectively known as the Old Montana Prison and Auto Museum Complex before moving on to historic downtown buildings like the Rialto Theater. The tour concludes at Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site.   

Johnny Grant (1831-1907)Johnny Grant was born in Edmonton, Canada and grew up in Three Rivers, Quebec. When he was 16, he worked for his father, Richard, in what was then Washington Territory. Richard was employed by the Hudson Bay Company at a post where the Oregon, Mormon, and California Trails converged. During these years, Johnny learned how to trade with settlers passing through, who often would exchange two tired cattle for a rested one. It was in this way that Grant accumulated a sizeable herd of 4,000 cattle by 1862, when, as noted above, he established the ranch. He continued to provide cattle for settlers as well as mining communities. However, Deer Lodge at the time was lawless and cattle was often stolen. As a result, he decided to sell the ranch and its equipment in 1866 (to Kohrs) and move his family to Carmen, Manitoba. Grant had a large family. He had three Indian wives, 21 biological children, and several adopted children.Conrad Kohrs (1835-1920)Carstens Conrad Kohrs was born in the province of Holstein, Germany in 1835. At that time, the province was a part of Denmark. He ran away when he was 15 and became a cabin boy and spent the next several years traveling around the world. Some of the places he went to were Brazil, Cuba, and islands off the coast of Africa. He later worked as a butcher for relatives in the America (New York and Iowa), a logger on the Mississippi River, and got a job in a distillery. He became a U.S. citizen in 1857 and moved west to California in hopes of finding gold.However, instead of making it rich with gold, he opened butcher shops in mining camps in California, Canada, Idaho, and Montana, using the skills he had acquired. He was very successful and began to amass his wealth, which he used to buy the ranch. In 1867, his half brother John, joined him to work on the ranch. They would remain partners for five decades.The initial purpose of the ranch was to provide space for the herd, which was the source of meat for Kohrs' butcher shops. Gradually, he bought additional land to increase the amount of land for his cattle to graze on. He was, in fact, the first in Montana to move his to cattle graze in the open range, which was apparently considered public domain. Kohrs would eventually sell his cattle to distant markets such as the Chicago stockyards. In addition to raising cattle, Kohrs and John also raised and sold horses. They were smart businessmen as well. They divided the whole herd across their land, creating smaller ones. If they lost one herd, the others would recoup the losses. Kohrs also invested in mining and water interests, which were another source of income. These strategies helped Kohrs to survive difficult times, such as the harsh winter of 1886-1887.Grant–Kohrs Ranch National Historic SiteThe National Park Service (NPS) acquired the ranch in 1972 from Kohrs' grandson, Conrad Warren, who took over the ranch in 1932. Warren raised cattle and was a prominent figure in Montana's cattle industry, serving as president of the Montana Stock Growers Association.

The Grant–Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site showcases the history of the open-range cattle industry in the American West. It was established by pioneer open-range cattle rancher Johnny Grant in 1862 and bought in 1866 by Conrad Kohrs, who became one of the most influential cattlemen in the state. Kohrs, who operated the ranch until 1920, expanded his landholdings to the enormous size of 10 million acres, covering an area that reached into Canada and spanned across parts of four states. The size of his herd was equally impressive, growing to 50,000 cattle. Today, the site is a working ranch. It is 1,600 acres in size and features 88 historic buildings, a visitor center, pastures, ten miles of ranch roads and trails, and historic farm equipment. Visitors can take guided and self-guided tours, watch demonstrations, attend living history events, and see horses, chickens, and cattle. The ranch was declared a National Historic Site in 1960, and it became a museum in 1972.   

Grant–Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site

The primary reason why Gardner established the League was that in 1907, the U.S. Postal Service stopped allowing his publications—Woman’s Magazine and the Woman’s Farm Journal—from being sold at the second-class rate. The Postal Service argued that the purpose of those magazines to advertise, which disqualified them from being sold at the lower price. Gardner fought the Postal Service in court and eventually won but lost many of his subscribers. To rebuilt what he had lost, Gardner decided to establish the League in 1908. To qualify for membership, women had to sell a certain amount of subscriptions. The League then used the money earned to pay for the construction of chapter houses. In this way, the League was a means for Gardner to simultaneously support his magazines and newspapers as well as help further women's causes. The League started a correspondence school called the People's University, where the chapter houses served as university branches; an exchange service where women could share handcrafts; and a postal library that enabled members to exchanged books and phonograph records.Unfortunately, the League struggled financially and was only able to survive until 1911. Another organization called the American Women's Republic was founded that year and took up the mantle for women's rights, teaching women about government and politics. The Deer Lodge Women's Club was formed and has occupied the building ever since.

Women from Deer Lodge have been meeting at the historic Deer Lodge Women's Club since 1910, the year it was built. The club was originally a chapter house of an organization called the American Women's League, which was established in 1907 by publisher Edward Gardner Lewis, who published women's magazines and supported women's rights. This club was one of 39 that the League built across 16 states and was designed in the Prairie style with an Arts and Crafts-style interior. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. The club has served as a place where women can participate in a variety of social, civic, and cultural activities.

Deer Lodge Women's Club

William Kohrs was studying electrical engineering at Columbia University in New York when he died unexpectedly after having an appendectomy. Conrad and Augusta believed a library would be an appropriate memorial because it would honor their son who was committed to his education. The library also symbolizes the stability and prosperity Deer Lodge had achieved by 1903. By then, residents were yearning for a cultural institution where they could pursue their intellectual ambitions. In addition to providing funds to construct the building, the Kohrs also donated equipment and thousands of book. The library continues to be a vital part of the community today. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

The William K. Kohrs Memorial Library was built in 1903 by cattleman and state senator Conrad Kohrs and his wife, Augusta, as a gift to the city in honor of their son, William, who died suddenly in 1901. Conrad Kohrs was one of most successful cattle barons in the country during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He contributed greatly to the economic prosperity of Deer Lodge and western Montana. The building itself is a fine example of Beau-Arts and Classical Revival architecture. It features a granite and sandstone exterior, a terra-cotta tile roof, a portico main entrance with Ionic columns, a central dome of colored glass, and a  memorial stained glass window dedicated to William. The library is therefore historically significant for its architecture and association with the Kohrs family. 
 

William K. Kohrs Memorial Library 

Old Montana PrisonThe former Montana State Prison was established in 1871 at the request of state residents. Montana had just become a territory in 1864 and was rather lawless during this period. Construction on the first cell building began in 1870 was finished the next year. Over time, the prison grew to its current size, especially under the leadership of warden Frank Conley, who served in that position from 1890 to 1921. Conley believed that prisoners ought to be put to work and many constructed the buildings that stand today, including the main cell block. In 1957, the prison experienced a bloodless riot. However, a second riot in 1959 that lasted for more than 30 hours was deadly; a deputy warden and several prisoners were killed and wounded. As stated above, the old prison finally closed in 1979 and inmates were transferred to a new facility.Auto MuseumThe Auto Museum features 160 vintage automobiles and related memorabilia and items on display. Highlights include a Thermidor Car Cooler, a 1886 Benz replica car, a 1920 Form A Tractor, a 1915 Seagrave Fire Truck, a DeSoto Airflow, a Ford Mustang GT500 fastback 'Eleanor,' and a 1964 Chevrolet Corvette Show Car.Powell County MuseumLocated across the street from the prison on the corner Main St. and Conley Avenue, the Powell County Museum preserves and promotes local history. Exhibits contain a variety of items including antique furniture, a mining display, and a salt and pepper display.Frontier Montana MuseumAlso located across the street, the Frontier Montana Museum houses a large collection of authentic rancher/cowboy-related items such as saddles, chaps, handguns, and spurs. They date from around 1829-1900. Additionally, there are more than 300 rifles and handguns on display, as well as Native American collection consisting of animal skin clothing, weapons, and beadwork.Yesterday's PlaythingsYesterday's Playthings features model trains and the doll collection—dolls, doll carriages, prams, and beds—of a woman Harriet Free. The oldest items in the collection date back 1835.

The Old Montana Prison & Auto Museum Complex consists of five separate museums: the historic Montana State Prison museum, an automobile museum, the Powell County Museum, the Frontier Montana Museum, and Yesterday's Playthings. Designed in the Romanesque style, the castle-like prison originally built in 1871. The main building was constructed in 1912 with red bricks and features 400 cells and four large square towers at each corner. The prison wall that surrounds the complex was completed in the early 1890s. The prison closed for good in 1979 due to its deteriorating condition. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. 

Old Montana Prison & Auto Museum Complex

The Milwaukee Road was founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1847 as the Milwaukee and Waukesha Railroad (Waukesha is suburb of Milwaukee). Its initial aim was to reach the Mississippi River, which it finally did in 1857. Over the next several decades, the company grew in the Midwest; its name changed as well, becoming the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul Railroad by the mid-1870s. In the 1890s, the company began to consider building an extension to the Pacific. Survey work conducted in the early 1900s estimated that the company would need to spend $45 million for the 1,400-mile extension. The estimate increased to $60 million in 1905.Despite the high costs, the company forged ahead with the extension. Construction began in both directions in 1906. From the east, the line began at MoBridge, South Dakota and headed west. From the west, the construction began at Seattle and headed east. When the lines met three years later near Garrison, the Milwaukee Road became the only railroad company that ran from Chicago to Seattle. It was an impressive accomplishment. The company built 2,300 miles of tracks over difficult terrain in just three years. Deer Lodge became an important division point on the line. The Pacific extension allowed the company to successfully compete with other companies for the profitable transcontinental freight and passenger traffic. Eventually, the Milwaukee Road would own the longest end-to-end rail line in the country, from Louisville, Kentucky to the Pacific Ocean.

Situated at the intersection of Conley Avenue and Main Street, this monument commemorates the last spike that was driven into the Puget Sound extension of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad (aka, the "Milwaukee Road") on May 19, 1909. The event took place approximately 17 miles to the northwest, not far from the town of Garrison along Gold Creek. The company decided to build the extension to Pacific Ocean in 1905 to compete with other railroad companies, particularly the Great Northern Railroad and Union Pacific. The monument consists of a large replica spike and interpretive panels. The site also features a locomotive, an electric engine, and a train car all once owned by the Milwaukee Road. The monument was originally installed near the site where the lines met but was moved here in 2003. 

Tour of Historic Deer Lodge Montana

Rialto Theater

Introduction

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Backstory and Context

Sources

Additional Information