About the Big Sky Country National Heritage Area

The Big Sky Country National Heritage Area (BSCNHA) is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization working to establish Montana's first National Heritage Area. Our mission is to preserve, interpret, and promote the history, culture, and landscapes of the Upper Missouri River region—from Fort Benton through Cascade County—while strengthening local communities through heritage tourism, education, and preservation.

The National Heritage Area program began in 1984 when Congress established the Illinois & Michigan Canal National Heritage Area, the first of its kind. Today, more than 60 National Heritage Areas across the United States celebrate places where historic, cultural, and natural resources come together to tell nationally important stories. Unlike national parks, Heritage Areas are lived-in landscapes where local organizations and communities work together to preserve and share their heritage.

Stretching along the Missouri River from Fort Benton through Cascade County, the proposed Big Sky Country National Heritage Area encompasses landscapes that tell nationally significant stories of Indigenous peoples, the Lewis and Clark Expedition, river transportation, agriculture, industry, art, and the development of Montana. The region is also home to four National Historic Landmarks: the C.M. Russell Museum and Studio, Fort Benton, the Lewis and Clark Great Falls Portage, and First Peoples Buffalo Jump.

Governed by a local Board of Directors and powered entirely by volunteers, BSCNHA builds partnerships that support historic preservation, educational programs, heritage tourism, and community-based projects. Through grants, fundraising, and collaboration, we help preserve the places and stories that make Montana's Upper Missouri River country unique while creating opportunities for future generations.

An NHA is...

A nationally significant landscape recognized by Congress.

A partnership that brings together local communities, organizations, businesses, and governments.

A program that supports historic preservation, education, recreation, and heritage tourism.

Locally governed by a nonprofit board and funded by local contributors.

Eligible to compete for federal matching grants and other funding opportunities.

An NHA is NOT...

An HOA.

A requirement to allow public access to private property.

A national park.

Owned or managed by the National Park Service.

A federal land acquisition program.

A change to private property rights.

A zoning authority or regulatory agency.