Winter 2024 Hours: Tuesday: 11 am- 5 pm ; Wednesday- Saturday 11 am–4 pm                                                          

Mission and History

Our Mission

Our mission at the Hockaday Museum is to enrich the cultural life of our community and region, and preserve the artistic legacy of Montana and Glacier National Park.

Building History
The Hockaday Museum is housed in a turn-of-the-century Carnegie Library Building that is listed in the National Registry of Historic Places. The nearly 125-year-old building, now wheelchair accessible, has undergone significant renovations to create a sophisticated museum setting while retaining the building’s historic beauty.

Museum History
In 1967, the Flathead Branch of the Montana Institute of the Arts explored the need for a community art center in the Flathead Valley. Area residents responded enthusiastically, and on February 10, 1969, the Flathead Valley Art Association opened the Hockaday Center for the Arts as a community art center in the Carnegie Library building.

The art center was named for Lakeside artist Hugh Hockaday (1892-1968), who moved to the Flathead Valley after a successful career as a commercial artist. In 1998, the Hockaday Center changed its name to the Hockaday Museum of Art to reflect its new focus as a collecting museum.

community art
children's artwork
gallery

Permanent Collection
The Museum’s growing permanent collection focuses on the art and artists of Montana and Glacier National Park. Featured in the permanent collection are works by Charles M. Russell, John Fery, Leonard Lopp, Bud Helbig, Ace Powell, O.C. Seltzer, Russell Chatham, Jeanne Hamilton, Hugh Hockaday, David Shaner, Thomas English, Bob Scriver, Gary Schildt, Tom Saubert, Frank Hagel, Mark Ogle, Jeff Walker, and others. Recent acquisitions include: Linda Wilder, Laurie Kersey, Charles Fritz, Doug Swinton, Julie Jeppsen, Krystii Melaine, Carol Cooke, Rebecca Tobey, and Linda Tippetts.

The Hockaday Museum of Art is proud to be a longstanding member of the following organizations: 

American Alliance of Museums

Bigfork Chamber of Commerce

Kalispell Chamber of Commerce

Kalispell Downtown Association

Montana Art Gallery Director’s Association

Montana Nonprofit Association

Museums for All 

North American Reciprocal Museum Association

Whitefish Chamber of Commerce

American Alliance of Museums logocolor

The Hockaday Museum of Art has achieved the Silver Seal of Transparency on Guidestar/Candid: 

We are also thankful to our current sponsors and community partners: 

Montana Arts Council 

Whitefish Community Foundation Greatfish Community Challenge

 Applied Materials Foundation

The Hockaday Museum of Art is a current recipient of the 2019-2021 Cultural & Aesthetics Trust Grant through the Montana Arts Council. We are funded in part by coal severance taxes paid based upon coal mined in Montana and deposited in Montana’s cultural and aesthetic projects trust fund.

Visit Us

Sign Up For Our Newsletter!


By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive marketing emails from: . You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact

Support for the Hockaday website design provided by a generous grant from

Hockaday Museum of Art © 2023 | All Rights Reserved | Website by SnowGhost Design