Sliderock Lookout Tower
Built: 1930 Brought to Museum: 1983
The United States Forest Service's first fire lookouts system was a crude setup of tents and crow's nest lookouts. Watching for wild fires in unpopulated areas was a relatively new idea and was regarded with little importance until the Great Fire of 1910. This massive fire too lives and caused major loss of property and forest lands. These damages forced the Forest Service to re-examine their practices, and they began building lookouts.
Manufactured in Columbia Falls, Montana in 1930, pre-packaged lookouts were shipped throughout a four-state region for on-site assembly on stilts or bare ground. This lookout tower was stationed at Sliderock Mountain, just off Rock Creek road, southeast of Missoula.
When this lookout was brought to the Museum in 1983, it was placed on its own "mini-Sliderock" mountain. The first section of stairs was removed, so the tower sits lower that it would have in its original location.
With assistance from the Friends of the Historical Museum and the Missoula Chapter of the Society of American Foresters, Sliderock Lookout stands preserved today as a reminder of the changing technology of fire prevention.
Erected by The US Forest Service Collection.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Horticulture & Forestry.
Location.
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. "Galloping Goose" (within shouting distance of this marker); Quartermaster's Root Cellar (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Fort Missoula Guard Tower (about 400 feet away); Fort Missoula Alien Detention Camp (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Fort Missoula Alien Detention Camp (approx. 0.2 miles away); Fort Missoula Barrack Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); Fort Missoula Post Headquarters (approx. ¼ mile away); Fort Missoula Recreation Hall (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Missoula.
Growing Trees for out Future
To be opened September 2100
Forestry Interpretive Area
Credits. This page was last revised on December 20, 2020. It was originally submitted on September 15, 2018, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 145 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 15, 2018, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
