Less than two miles from downtown Missoula, tucked behind the city’s North Hills, history and culture intertwine at one of the region’s oldest intact ranches. The site of this ranch is situated within the vast ancestral territories of the Séliš-Ql̓ispé people who have called this land home for 14,000 years. For just over 100 years, the land was cultivated by the Moon and Randolph families. In 1997, the City of Missoula purchased this land as open space, and later, a group of Missoula Northside residents worked to preserve this historic site. 

Visitors to the Moon Randolph Homestead bear witness to changing human-land relationships over time. They can taste wild American plums that lined a trail traveled by Séliš-Ql̓ispé people. They can experience the remnants of a century's worth of small scale agriculture. Laying hens continue to scratch about the chicken yard. Rare apple varieties continue to ripen in the 130-year-old heritage orchard. Children continue to play in the box elder trees and help with farm chores. As part of Missoula’s public open space, visitors can experience and take part in a rare and layered piece of Montana history.

Each donation supports historic preservation and community programming at the Moon-Randolph Homestead. The Homestead is a project of the North Missoula Community Development Corporation, a 501(c)3 organization.