Missoula in Missoula County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)

Studebaker Building

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 21, 2019

1. Studebaker Building Marker

Inscription. As the automobile gained popularity in the 1910s, stables and garages existed side by side until motor travel prevailed over horses in the 1920s. The succession of businesses at this address documents the transition that must have been hard on old-timers like Joseph P. Nagle, who first advertised his livery at this location in 1896. By 1912, at least one nearby business catered exclusively to the automobile, but Nagle continued to serve customers preferring horse-drawn conveyances. When the paving of this block of West Main Street in 1914 forecast the area’s development as an automobile-related business corridor, Nagle still held out. The present building replaced the stable after 1918. By 1921, the Main Street Motor Company advertised repairs and rental space for 70 vehicles. Most automobile owners in the early years stored them in garages for $15 to $20 a month, where they could be maintained and protected from cold weather. The spacious second floor, accessed by an interior ramp, served as such a facility. A Chevrolet dealership operated here in 1930, and in 1936, Louis Nybo sold Studebakers, the choice of the Missoula

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police force, until the 1950s. A vibrant example of 1920s utilitarian commercial architecture, the crenelated polychrome corner parapet with its repeating cloud-shaped ornamentation is an exceptional example of deco style “arc ziggurat.” The original industrial steel-frame show windows, carefully refurbished, illustrate design elements associated with the early auto industry.

Erected by Montana National Register Sign Program.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles. In addition, it is included in the Montana National Register Sign Program series list.

Location. 46° 52.312′ N, 113° 59.793′ W. Marker is in Missoula, Montana, in Missoula County. It is on West Main Street near Ryman Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 216 West Main Street, Missoula MT 59802, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Western Montana

and in Glacier Country.

It is also in the American Mountain

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 21, 2019

2. Studebaker Building Marker

The marker is at the left end of the building, between the tree and pole.

West

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Gleim Building II (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Palace Hotel (about 300 feet away); Gleim Building (about 400 feet away); Missoula County War Memorial (about 500 feet away); Missoula County Courthouse (about 500 feet away); Lenox Flats (about 500 feet away); Dixon-Duncan Block (about 600 feet away); Headquarters Building and Daily Company Annex (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Missoula.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 19, 2020. It was originally submitted on January 14, 2020, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 379 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 14, 2020, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.