Historical Picture Prompt Short Story Contest and Resources Available through the Montana History Portal

 Our friends at the Montana History Portal have some great activities and new resources available. 

Historical Picture Prompt Short Story Contest is in full swing

Get your story writing skills ready! The Montana History Portal is hosting the 6th Annual Historical Picture Prompt contest. Using any photo in the Portal collection as a story prompt participants will write a fictional short story (650 words or less) and enter through our submission form. Winners will be chosen from grades 3-6, grades 7-12, and adult. Entries will be accepted starting January 5, 2026, and the deadline to enter is February 27, 2026. 

For more information, photos, and submitting your entries, go to the Montana History Portal Contest page.

Montana The Magazine of Western History

Take a moment to step back into history! Access issues of Montana the Magazine of Western History through our JSTOR access. The collection includes issues from 1951-2022. 

Published by the Montana Historical Society since 1951, Montana The Magazine of Western History contains articles that showcase the people, places, and events that shaped the state and the western region.

Access the collection here.

Note that we at MTHS have discussion guides (some created by Teacher Leaders in History Dylan Huisken and Kim Konen) for a small number of Montana The Magazine of Western History articles. You can find those here.

Montana Field Guides

Montana Field Guides provide information on the identification, distribution, status, and ecology of Montana's animals, plants, lichens, and biological communities. Guides can be downloaded to be taken into the field!