The self-guided history tours of the Daly Mansion enter their second month with a new theme. This time, it's "The Daly Era by Design," featuring the special features inside the mansion - everything from the unique wallpaper to some of furniture that welcomed guests until the 1940s. There will even be information about which companies are responsible for such things as the icebox and the kitchen stove.

Many of the original furnishings of the grand building were sold at auction to help with taxes when the mansion reopened. During that auction the Daly Mansion Preservation Trust raised funds to bid on and keep some of the items in the building and they also received donations from people who wanted to help restore the Hamilton home of Copper King Marcus Daly and his wife Margaret. And, almost every year someone who bought furnishings at the public auction donates some items back to the Trust. Many of those will be featured, along with one of the original Mansion Auction official catalogs. Oh, and the maps of the original Stock Farm boundaries and neighboring farms that Marcus Daly purchased in the late 1800s will continue to be displayed on the third floor. (see photo below)

The self-guided tours are only available by appointment. They will be at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. from February 16-20 and February 22-27. Call the Daly Mansion at 406-363-6004 to buy a ticket and reserve your time. If you get the answering machine, leave a number and the staff will get back to you.

The long Daly Mansion lane is plowed so it's easy to get to the main parking lot and there is a handicapped parking area next to the north end of the building.

The tours are taking the place of the Spring history series of presentations in the Trophy Room. Volunteers continue to dig into historical records in the building's archive and this gives them a chance to share new insight into the past.

Another Mansion event that fell victim to the Pandemic was the very popular Holly Jolly Craft Show at Christmastime. So, instead, the Daly Mansion is having a Spring Craft Fair with some of the same vendors, but new ones, too. And because of COVID-19 crowd restrictions, it will NOT be at the mansion, but will be at the First Interstate Center at the Ravalli County Fairgrounds. The craft fair will be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on March 13 and admission will be free. However, if you'd like to be a sales vendor at the event, call mansion at 406-363-6004. Or you can check the Daly Mansion Facebook page to find a vendor application. Fill it out and e-mail it.

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Bitterroot Stock Farm boundary maps. (Steve Fullerton, Townsquare Media)
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