Downtown Bozeman

Overview

Bozeman, Montana, located in beautiful Gallatin Valley, exudes a small town ambience in the midst of a rapidly growing modern community. Renowned for its vast summer and winter outdoor recreation, Downtown Bozeman is conveniently situated near the Gallatin and Madison Rivers, three major ski areas, the popular Museum of the Rockies, and about 30 miles away Yellowstone National Park.

Present day Main Street in Downtown Bozeman served as the thoroughfare for pioneers traveling Bozeman Trail 1864-1866. Where tents and log cabins once stood, architectural design like Art Deco, Italianate, Victorian, Romanesque, and Mission Revival all have representation in Downtown Bozeman.

Between Main Street, Rouse, Beall, Tracy, Grand, and Wilsson, 49 buildings are designated on the National Register of Historic Places set among art galleries, boutiques, bistros, and more than 100 retail shops.

Location/Directions

Located in Southwest Montana, Downtown Bozeman can be accessed via traveling I-90 West from Billings and Livingston. Take exit 309 for Downtown Bozeman and Main Street.

Attractions

Take the 2-mile roundtrip, self-guided Downtown Bozeman Walking Tour to get a sense of Bozeman’s history and pioneer spirit. Bozeman’s Convention and Visitors Bureau provides maps including the following historic buildings:

• Gallatin County Jail, 317 W. Main
  Designed by Fred Willson in 1911, this brick building now houses the Gallatin Historical Society and Pioneer Museum.
• Holy Rosary Church, 220 W. Main
  This Gothic-inspired construction was completed in 1908.
• Baxter Hotel, 105 W. Main
  This Art Deco hotel opened in 1929 and held many town and fraternity/sorority social functions.
• Ellen Theatre, 17 W. Main
  Designed by Fred Willson in 1919, this Italianate-styled theatre was named after Ellen Story, the wife one of the theatre’s financiers, Nelson Story, Sr.
• Avant Courier Building, 1 E. Main
  This 1880 building housed Bozeman’s Avant Courier, the first town newspaper.
• Lamme Building, 29 E. Main
  This 1865 Italianate building housed Dr. Achilles Lamme’s mercantile business.
• Willson Company Building, 101 E. Main
  This 1903 building housed a department store until 1949..
• Harper Block, 237 E. Main
  The second oldest surviving building on Main Street, Harper Block was a blacksmith shop in 1872.
• Bozeman Hotel & Annex, 307-321 E. Main
  This Romanesque hotel was constructed in 1890 and served as a component in Bozeman’s bid to become Montana’s capital.
• Northern Pacific Railroad Freight Building, 611 E. Main
  This building operated with Northern Pacific Railroad in 1883..
• Spieth & Krug Brewery, 240-246 E. Main
  This 1868 Brewery once housed an exclusive dance hall.
• Fechter Hotel & Annex, 128 E. Main
  Early tenants of this Fred Willson design include F.W. Woolworth and J.C. Penny.
• Cooper & Black Building, 118 E. Main
  The second floor of this 1872 building housed Bozeman’s first library.
• Gallatin State Bank Building, 2-6 W. Main
  This 1908 Scahill brick design boasts a round corner entrance.

Events

Check out Downtown Bozeman’s Farmer’s Markets at the Emerson Cultural Center, held twice a month, October to April. Two other extremely popular events include outdoor concerts “Music on Main, ” held Thursday nights, July through August, as well as the Sweet Pea Festival held each August at Lindley Park.

For more information

Bozeman Convention and Visitors Bureau
Bozeman Area Chamber of Commerce
2000 Commerce Way
Bozeman 59715
(800) 228-4224 or (406) 586-5421

Downtown Bozeman Partnership
224 East Main Street
Bozeman MT 59715
Phone: 406-586-4008
Fax: 406-586-3882

• Downtown Bozeman has 49 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places set among galleries, bistros, and shops.
• Located in Southwest Montana, Downtown Bozeman can be accessed traveling I-90 West from Billings/Livingston. Take exit 309.
• A 2-mile roundtrip, self-guided Downtown Bozeman Walking Tour highlights Bozeman’s history and pioneer spirit.