Entry No. 4 — the Missoula file — filed under: offbeat-museum

Smokejumper Visitor Center

This is the nation's largest active smokejumper base, and the free visitor center is built around one strange profession: people who parachute out of planes into wildfires. A guided tour walks you through the loft where jumpers rig and maintain their own parachutes and gear, into a 1930s-era fire lookout tower, and past the ready room and national smokejumper memorial. Because it's a working base, during fire season real smokejumpers may be scrambled to a blaze while you're touring.

The move: Take the guided loft tour, then dare each other to try on the heavy Kevlar jump suit and pose like you're about to leap into a forest fire.

📍 Before you go Free. Open roughly 10am-4pm Tue-Sat from Memorial Day to Labor Day; off-season is by appointment only, so call (406) 329-4934 ahead.

• 📍 Missoula
• 💸 $
• ⚡ Up for anything
• 🌗 Indoors

Where: 5765 W Broadway St, Missoula, MT 59808

Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.

⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Proof: source 1 · source 2 · source 3

last checked: 2026-06-24