Montana Genealogist & Property Historian Ciara Pares Kempf

07/07/2025

Butte has always offered stellar contributions to the state for the 4th of July, from this stunning dress to the epic "biggest in Montana" fireworks shows over the M today.

Anna LaChapelle wearing the Statue of Liberty costume she wore the day she met William A. Clark at a 4th of July Parade in Butte, Montana. (c. 1893)

06/08/2025

All you Justin Posey treasure hunters, don't risk it! Remember the treasure is supposed to be less than a mile from the trailhead and don't venture into open mine shafts.

06/08/2025

The Montana Hotel in Anaconda was owned by Copper King Marcus Daly. It originally boasted four floors and 185 rooms in 1888, but two were removed in the 1970s "urban revitalization" which took so many historic buildings from Anaconda's downtown. A previous owner gutted the building, and sold off all the original fixtures. The Anaconda Restoration Foundation has been slowly repurchasing hotel pieces and restoring the building, including refurbishing and reinstalling a number of original square tile stained glass windows this year.

05/26/2025

In good news for history buffs everywhere, the low life that stole items from the
In good news for historians everywhere, the lowlife who stole artifacts from the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center last year has been caught and charged!
https://www.krtv.com/news/crime-and-courts/suspect-charged-with-stealing-from-lewis-clark-interpretive-center

05/21/2025

How did Ni**le Peak get its name? Sounds like Maggie Baggs, the wife of rancher George Baggs, had a habit of bossing around her cowboys. While her range boss and a competing outfit's top hand were riding summer range near Hahn's Peak, Colorado, one referred to this prominent k**b as "Maggie's Ni**le." He received a horsewhipping at Maggie's hand for the monicker, but it stuck, and today the name refers both to this peak and one on the Baggs' former winter range in Wyoming.

Let's be clear Maggie was a badass, but not half the slt the legends make her out to be. She legally married and divorced each of her four husbands, and just because George left the rumor she was screwing his employees doesn't make it true! George was no peach: he was an unashamed racist, tried to murder a guy with his bare hands, and would've cheated Maggie out of her half of the ranch if she hadn't taken him to court.

04/30/2025

The Montana State Hospital was begun in 1877 as a private hospital for the mentally ill. The 1880 census showed 45 patients total, defined as either "insane" or "idiotic," words no longer in use today. Two of these patients were women (one white, one Black). In addition to the warden, the hospital employed 2 female housekeepers, 3 male laborers, 1 "Chinese laundry man" and 1 "Chinese cook," but apparently no nurses or other medical personnel.

03/30/2025

Thank you to everyone who came out in support of the Big Hole Historical Society and my lecture at the Divide Grange last weekend. I love hearing memories of Ruby!

03/22/2025

Divide's most notorious resident, Ruby Garrett was more than just the Dumas madam who murdered her husband. See you tomorrow at the Divide Grange at 2 p.m. to discover the amazing resilience and heart of this famous Big Hole neighbor! Join historian Ciara Pares Kempf at this free hour-long lecture.

01/29/2025

Missed my Ruby Garrett talk at the Butte archives in September? Join me at the Divide Grange, March 23 at 2 pm to learn about her incredible life. Ruby Garrett was more than just the last owner of the Dumas Brothel in Butte. Her resilience through unbelievable circumstances should inspire women across Montana!

12/10/2024

A gem in Anaconda, though it's changed so much through the years.

Washoe Park, Anaconda

09/24/2024

Join me tomorrow at noon for the Brown Bag Lunch at the Butte Silver-Bow Archives to learn about the unbelievable life of Butte's famous madam (or "landlady," as she preferred), Ruby Garrett. I'm still collecting stories of Ruby for the History of the Big Hole Volume 3, so if you or a family member knew her, I'd love to hear from you!

09/17/2024

There has been a recent rash of these thefts around Montana. It's assumed most of these artifacts end up sold behind the scenes. This history belongs to all of us! It was your pistol and knife too, a piece of the past that might never be recovered without the public's help. Share if you can!

This weekend a man came into the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in Great Falls and stole a 200-year old antique pocket pistol and knife with sheath. We are looking for the public’s help to identify the man. If you recognize him, please send a tip to sm.fs.hlc_tip_line@usda.gov