John White Series presents Kira Powell on “Fire Lookouts: A Peek into the Past"
Schedule
Sun, 01 Feb, 2026 at 02:00 pm
UTC-07:00Location
Northwest Montana History Museum | Kalispell, MT
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How many lookout towers are in the Flathead National Forest? How many are on the National Historic Lookout Register? Are lookouts still in use?If you’ve hiked up a mountain ridge, you may well know the feeling of surprise to encounter a glass-sided building perched several miles up a trail. Maybe you’ve wondered, while enjoying the view, when and how these structures were built and how they are maintained. Maybe you’ve been curious about the remote square structures surrounded by deep forests and cliffs, with expansive and breathtaking views on all sides, and who gets to call them home for the summer.
The Northwest Montana Lookout Association can help slake this curiosity, even without a strenuous hike.
Powell’s presentation on fire lookouts will share the history of our local forest lookouts, what it takes to maintain them, and the role lookouts continue to play in firefighting efforts.
About the presenter: Kira Powell works in public relations in the natural resources field. She spends her free time outdoors and aspires to hike every trail in the Flathead National Forest. She also has a keen interest in the history of fire management, which makes fire lookouts a delightful blend of two passions. In 2022, Powell traded the Cabinet Mountains for the Swan Range and now calls the Flathead Valley home. She had such a blast on a trip up to Stahl Peak lookout with a volunteer crew that she joined the board of the Northwest Montana Lookout Association.
More info on the series: https://www.nwmthistory.org/programs/john-white-speaker-series/
Order the entire four-talk series here: https://www.flatheadtickets.com/organizations/northwest-montana-history-museum/packages
All John White Series talks are followed by social time in Hollensteiner-Stahl Hall.
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Where is it happening?
Northwest Montana History Museum, 124 2nd St E, Kalispell, MT 59901-4994, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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