The Forestry Interpretive Area of Fort Missoula in Missoula, Montana, includes a Steam Operated Sawmill and a Tipi Burner. Historically, the timber industry was the most important economic activity in Western Montana, and the Forest Interpretive Area is dedicated to the history of the forestry and forest products industry. The sawmill is operational and used on special occasions.
The Steam Powered Sawmill was originally built about 1900 and was used in the area near Deerlodge, Montana. It was brought to Fort Missoula in 1990. The sawmill is representative of portable sawmills used in Western Montana. According to the display:
“This particular kind of mill has a circle saw as opposed to a band saw. The diameter of the circular saw blade was a limited factor on how large a log could be sawn.”
Tipi Burner
Tipi burners, named for their resemblance to American Indian tipis, were constructed at sawmills to burn the sawdust and other by-products of the milling process. Tipi burners stood 45-55 feet tall and were used until the passage of the Clean Air Act in 1970.
More museum photo tours
Museums 101: Sawmill (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: Ranch and Sawmill (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: The Washington timber industry (photo diary)
Fort Missoula: Homestead cabin (photo diary)
Fort Missoula: One-room schoolhouse (photo diary)
Museums 101: Apple Capital of the World! (photo diary)
Museums 101: Saddles (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: Logging and mining in North Idaho (photo diary)