"Take care of the land and it will take care of you"
Homestead Preservation
Stewardship - Conservation - Preservation
Our Mission
It is our responsibility to preserve & maintain the McMaster Ranch to provide historical education for generations to come.
%20-%20Copy.JPG/:/cr=t:16.67%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:66.67%25/rs=w:1209,h:605,cg:true)
Our History
The story of the McMaster ranch began in Pennsylvania, where Irish immigrants Joseph and Flora McMaster had a farm in 1880.
In 1886 Joseph & Flora arrived in Helena, Montana Territory
with their son William and his family - wife Lizzie & son James.
In 1893, William and Lizzie homesteaded this property (12 miles east of Helena) on the old road to Diamond City and near the Helena-Bozeman road and the Northern Pacific rail line. They built a blacksmith shop, then later they built this big barn by the blacksmith shop to provide wheel repair & farrier services to passing travelers.
Our Goals
The McMaster School House was the first building on this property to be preserved. This work was performed by Preserve Montana (Chere, Mary & Chandler) along with a long list of volunteer bank employees who signed up for this project during a First Interstate Bank Volunteer Day. We encourage all schools, youth and community organizations
to help us plant 'new seeds' of desire to learn about local history & help preserve it for generations to come.