Missoula Lifestyle

Missionaries, trappers, loggers, American Indians, prospectors, and train builders were among the key players in Missoula’s recent past. Today, our modern city offers numerous cultural, educational, medical, and recreational amenities to both residents and visitors.
In 1805, Meriwether Lewis first visited the “hub of five great valleys” – Flathead to the north, Frenchtown to the west, Bitterroot to the south, Blackfoot to the northeast, and Hellgate to the east. Today, travelers fish and float the Clark Fork, the Bitterroot, and the Blackfoot rivers, made famous in the movie “A River Runs Through It.”
Fur traders stopped here in the early 19th century and settlers arrived in great numbers after the discovery of gold in Montana in the 1860s.
In 1833 the Northern Pacific Railroad helped to make Missoula a logging and marketing center. Then, in 1893, the University of Montana was founded, now  14,000 students strong, and, like the community, still growing.
Today, Missoula is a thriving city of about 69,000 people. Professional and financial services, retail trade, health care and other professions have supplemented the older resource-based economy. Missoulians love the scenic beauty of their surroundings, with its opportunities to ski, fish, golf, hike or simply enjoy the outdoors. Sporting events, concerts, museums, and fine restaurants are also bountiful in this beautiful city.

Missoula is home to a number of breweries, distilleries and wineries. Local brewers and distillers capture the spirit of Missoula in their ales and spirits!

With a river running through the heart of town and miles of hiking trails surrounding the city, outdoor recreation is a big part of living in Missoula.

Millions of acres of public lands - National Forests, wildlife refuges and open space - are right in Missoula's back yard providing opportunities to explore nature every day of the year.

Missoula has a wide variety of sports to take part in or watch as a fan. There are options for athletes and fans alike all year long. Football, basketball, baseball, hockey, running and even curling are all part of the Missoula sports scene.

Looking for that special something? Missoula has you covered. Missoula is home to western Montana’s largest indoor shopping mall, national discount and department stores and dozens of interesting downtown stores and boutiques.

Missoula has become a hot spot for performing arts. Concerts, theater, dance and just about anything else you could want are options all year long. Two amphitheaters and a historic theater attract some of the best music acts in the country to this Montana city.

Missoula offers a diverse options for worship.