Moon-Randolph Homestead

Moon-Randolph Homestead A historic homestead founded in 1889. Less than two miles from downtown Missoula, history and culture intertwine at an old ranch in the Rattlesnake foothills.

For more than 10,000 years, this site was situated in the aboriginal territories of the Séliš-Ql̓ispé people. For 100 years, the ranch, located at the northwest corner of a 470-acre property, was continuously cultivated by the Moon and Randolph families. In the 1990s the property began to draw the attention of curious and concerned citizens. In 1996, the City of Missoula purchased the Randolph pro

perty to preserve open space for animals, plants and people. In 1998 the North Missoula Community Development Corporation (NMCDC) sponsored a community campaign to preserve the homestead, creating the Hill and Homestead Preservation Coalition. Since 2000, the NMCDC has managed the homestead through a cooperative agreement with the City of Missoula Parks and Recreation Department. This public-nonprofit partnership provides an innovative model for collaborative community building. Hundreds of people have experienced the homestead’s special gifts. Each person takes away an imprint of the place: a glimpse of an owl in flight; the feel of a worn plow handle; the sound of laughter and apples falling from the crown of a tangled tree. Visit the Homestead:

The homestead is open to the public Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., May through October. Private tours can be arranged on request, and the homestead is available for gatherings, weddings, and private events during the open season. Please contact the homestead via email for more information or to arrange a visit: [email protected]. Research and Volunteer:

Gardening, leading tours, building restoration, and education are just some of the skills you can share or learn at the homestead. We are always looking for new ideas, and welcome collaborations with artists, writers, craftspeople, and others. Students are welcome to contact us to discuss internship opportunities. The homestead also maintains a document archive and an inventory of tools and artifacts for use by researchers who wish to explore the site’s history. All of the artifacts and documents in the collection were salvaged from the homestead sheds and shelters.

05/28/2026

Evening thunderstorm, late May.

MEND FENCES with the caretakers and ! 9am to noon | June 2nd & 3rdWe'll have gloves and tools to share. Recommend weari...
05/28/2026

MEND FENCES with the caretakers and !
9am to noon | June 2nd & 3rd

We'll have gloves and tools to share. Recommend wearing long sleeves, pants, sturdy shoes, and eye-protection/sunglasses are recommended. There will be time to explore and learn more about this unique site!

Sign up for one session or both: https://volunteersignup.org/9LBAW

Many thanks to for helping us with a fencing project earlier this spring and for the photography!

Plein Air Painting with Preserve Historic MissoulaSaturday | May 23rd | 1-4pm May is Historic Preservation Month! To ce...
05/12/2026

Plein Air Painting with Preserve Historic Missoula
Saturday | May 23rd | 1-4pm

May is Historic Preservation Month! To celebrate, we're joining forces with and Let’s Go Plein Air for an afternoon at the Moon-Randolph Homestead. Bring your media of choice and come draw, paint, chat, take a tour of the homestead, or just sit back and relax!

Light refreshments and limited sketching supplies provided.

Dang y'all, the homestead is GLORIOUS right now! The hills are green. The apple trees are blooming. If there was ever a...
05/08/2026

Dang y'all, the homestead is GLORIOUS right now! The hills are green. The apple trees are blooming. If there was ever a time to VISIT (or have a picnic up here), THIS SATURDAY is it!

The delightful Annie Garde will be our host if you'd like a tour or want to learn more about the place. (You may recall that Missoula-famous name from Montana Public Radio's children's show, The Pea Green Boat).

We're open from 11am to 5pm on Saturdays now through the end of October. See you soon!

Many thanks to you, , for hosting sustainable living workshops at the Moon-Randolph Homestead! This spring, workshop pa...
05/05/2026

Many thanks to you, , for hosting sustainable living workshops at the Moon-Randolph Homestead!

This spring, workshop participants joined the biochar revolution. Tidying scrap wood and slash piles, they burned waste wood in a charcoal kiln. The resulting biochar can be used to improve soil health. It also makes really hot fires for blacksmithing. The next day, participants used their biochar to do just that! Using two donated forges, participants heated scrap iron enough to bend, twist, and pound into useful hooks and other creations--as people before us have done before us for thousands of years.

Many thanks to blacksmithing instructors, Jim and James. And many thanks to Mark Vander Meer, who donated the kiln, much of the blacksmithing equipment, the biochar know-how, and the vision to bring blacksmithing back to the homestead.

Come visit! We'll kick-off our open season this Saturday, May 2nd. Bring your family, kiddos, friends, and a picnic bl...
05/01/2026

Come visit!

We'll kick-off our open season this Saturday, May 2nd. Bring your family, kiddos, friends, and a picnic blanket. Soak in the green season while it's here. You'll never know what else you might find poking around these old ranch buildings! We're open now on Saturdays from 11am to 5pm, May through October.

Shout out to 5th graders! They came out to the homestead last week for Ecothon--a day of community service. It is insp...
04/29/2026

Shout out to 5th graders! They came out to the homestead last week for Ecothon--a day of community service. It is inspiring to see a group of kiddos brave the cold, revel in the sunshine, work together, problem solve, and play tag in our ancient orchard. Thanks to the staff, students, and parents who helped make it happen!

Join us for our first volunteer event of the year! We're joining forces with and their Hands-on-the-Land volunteers to...
04/17/2026

Join us for our first volunteer event of the year! We're joining forces with and their Hands-on-the-Land volunteers to mend fences at the homestead.

Friday | April 24th | noon - 5pm (lunch provided!)

Register now at: https://runsignup.com/Race?raceId=204824

04/17/2026
Learn the ancient art of pruning fruit trees! 🌳🍎This workshop focuses on mature apple trees. It will equip beginners wit...
02/18/2026

Learn the ancient art of pruning fruit trees! 🌳🍎

This workshop focuses on mature apple trees. It will equip beginners with the knowledge necessary to observe tree growth patterns, prioritize pruning strategies unique to each tree, and maintain pruning tools. With small groups and attentive instructors, participants will get hands on experience. Afterwards budding pruners can enjoy warm food together around the campfire. 🔥
$25-$50 suggested donation. Space is limited.

Register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/prune-the-moon-tickets-1982546017507?aff=oddtdtcreator

Address

1515 Spurlock Road
Missoula, MT
59802

Telephone

+14067280451

Website

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