I've just finished reading A Woman's Way West by John Fraley, a wonderful personal history of Doris Huffine and her husband, Dan, who lived and worked in and around Glacier National Park and the Flathead Valley for most of their lives. The latter part of the book describes the Huffine Museum, established by Doris and Dan and once located east of Kalispell on what is now Hwy 206. What does the Huffine Museum have to do with this article, you ask? The bulk of its artifacts--over 2,000--were offered to Gil and Joanne Mangels, founders of the Miracle of America Museum in Polson, after Doris Huffine died, complementing the wealth of exhibits already on hand at this Polson landmark.

Dubbed the "Smithsonian of the West," the Miracle of America Museum looks deceptively compact from Hwy 93, but the building that faces the road is just the

Gil Mangels stands near the entrance to the Miracle of America Museum. He and his wife, Joanne, are happy to answer any questions you may have about the exhibits.

tip of the iceberg. This past Saturday we toured the museum and grounds for the first time-in a cold, steady rain. We were only able to stay for an hour and a half, but you could easily spend half the day studying the intriguing and detailed exhibits on American pioneer, western, military, nautical, business and agricultural history in the main hall and collectibles--especially an incredible permanent wave machine that looked as if it wold electrocute anyone brave or foolhardy enough to sit beneath its metal rods. Rick was drawn to the military memorabilia and vehicles from the Spanish-American War through Vietnam and Desert Storm.

We were both intrigued by the early Montana horse-drawn hearse that came from the Huffine collection. Added to those were arrowheads, agates a wonderful collection of

vintage motorcycles, sleds, and sleights, car; exhibits on fishing, mining, hunting, toys, guns, Native Americans, religions, the law, etc., etc.

Taking advantage of the museum's complimentary umbrellas, we ventured outside to wander around the pioneer village - stopping in the school house, the sewing/tailoring shop, the general store, as well as the saddlery which houses original saddlemaking tools donated by then 97 year old local saddlemaker Jack Welch when he moved to a nursing home. (Gil told us that on Welch's 100th birthday his family brought him out to the museum to see the saddle shop the Mangels had re-created.) Not to be missed is the Paul Bunyan, a logging tow that for years transported logs across Flathead Lake, and which is now listed in both the National and

International Registers of Historic Large Vessels. There are carpentry, blacksmith and barber shops, a gas station and garage, a fire hall, a doctor/dentist office, a sod-roofed log cabin and outhouse, a logging cook shack and logging equipment, cars, wooden boats, and the Montana Fiddlers Hall of Fame. The restoration work is ongoing and new projects are continually in the works, thanks to donations of both memorabilia and money by supporters of this non-profit museum.

As of the writing of this article in Dec of 1998, over 13,000 visitors had passed through the Miracle of America Museum, from all 50 states and 31 countries

around the world. From as far away as Austrailia, Samoa and Russia. The Mangels especially enjoy the local school groups who tour the facility, and use the exhibits to explain to the students about the freedoms we enjoy in this country and the responsibilities inherent in them.

The Miracle of American Museum is located on Hwy 93, 3/4 of a mile south of the junction with Hwy 35 in Polson, Montana. It is open daily from 8 AM to 5 PM. During the winter months, however, call ahead at 883-6804 to check the hours it's open. Also during the winter dress warmly (don't forget your gloves) as the pioneer village buildings are not heated and the main exhibit hall is quite cool, too.

Above: A loom made in Illinois in the 1840's taken to Salt Lake City, then to St. Ignatius, later to the Pablo Postmasters Museum, then the Lookout Museum and finally to Miracle of America.
Above right: A kitchen extravaganza. A 1902 sitz or hip bath can be seen in the center foreground.

The Miracle of America Museum has its own website at www.cyberport.net/museum, and it's email address is museum@cyberport.net

Friends of the Museum memberships are reasonable, tax deductible,and provide free admission, copies of the quarterly newsletter and a 10% discount in the gift shop.

Above: A 1932 Harley Davidson single cylinder motorcycle with flat belt drive.

If, like us, you have driven by the museum and thought "I really should stop here some day," do it. You'll be intrigued by the eclectic collections and will learn some fascinating tidbits about our nation's history. Plan on spending several hours. You can count on having a great time!

Admission is $2.50 for adults and $1.00 for children ages 3-12.

Left: You can go onboard the Paul Bunyan logging tow boat. It's still being renovated.

Take a virtual tour of the Miracle of America Museum by clicking on the picture of the Paul Bunyan.