Among the many valuable and historic items on display within the Museum is the Masonic Apron of Captain and Brother Meriwether Lewis.  

The following (Ref. The Proceedings of the Grand Lodge Of Montana, 1961), is an account by Joseph R. Hopper, Grand Master (1961) of Masons of Montana AF & AM : “As you brethren know, I have taken a great interest in early Montana Masonic history and I have dedicated this year to the pioneer Masons of Montana.  Their Ideals and their efforts made a great impact on the establishment of law and order in our great state and their names are so interwoven with the best pages of history of the state of Montana.  The very first white men in our authenticated history to enter into what we now call the Treasure State were members of the famous Lewis and Clark expedition.  They truly lived an ancient axiom of the craft which proclaims that Time, Patience and Perseverance accomplisheth all things.  Captain Meriwether Lewis was a Mason and a member of the Widows Son Lodge of Virginia, Captain Clark also became a Mason in St. Louis Lodge No. 111 of which Captain Lewis was the first Master.”

“Brethren, with great deal thrilling personal pleasure as your Grand Master, I present to you, the Grand Lodge of Montana, 1961, the Masonic apron that belonged to Brother and Captain Meriwether Lewis and was in his possession at the time of his death on the Natchez Trace. Note:  The blood stains upon the apron are reported to be those of  Bro. Lewis.
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                                          Brother Meriwether Lewis

On January 9, 1874, a fire in Helena destroyed all the Grand Lodge collections, materials, manuscripts and property.This set in motion the construction of a secure building for the Grand Secretary, the Library and Museum. However, it was not until 1920 that a building fund was established. In 1935 the building committee purchased the property part of which had been a former placer mining claim.On July 18, 1936 the Grand Lodge met in special communication to lay the conerstone.At 7 p.m. on August 18, 1937 the Grand Lodge building was dedicated. During the dedication Brother William J. Marshall, Past Grand Master remarked "…This building, which will henceforth be the home of Montana Masonry, is in keeping with, yes I may say is symbolical of Masonry itself. It is built firmly on a a solid rock foundation so that the rains, the floods and even the earthquakes cannot make it fall, fire cannot damage it, and time and the elements will have little or no destructive effect upon it." Ref: The Hands of the Workman, , Robert E. Miller, Grand Historian, 1966. The Grand Lodge A.F & A.M of Montana established a Masonic Library and Museum in the Grand Lodge office building, 425 North Park, Helena. Since that date the Library and Museum have enjoyed a growth and patronage that distinguishes it as one of the great museum and library with collections of Masonic items, books and manuscripts.
Updated August 17, 2001
R. Gardiner