Old Missoula

Teddy Roosevelt Visits Garden City, Attracts Huge Crowd

Ex-President Theodore Roosevelt made three speeches in Missoula on April 11, 1911, talking in the morning to grade students and later to Montana State University faculty and students. At 2:30 in the afternoon he spoke at the corner of Higgins and Broadway, attracting a huge crowd of western Montanans. In the left background, next to the Young Women’s Christian Association building can be seen two streetcars. Roosevelt and Sen. Joseph M. Dixon are on the speaker’s platform in the center of the picture at the corner of the recently completed Montana Block (Photo courtesy of Robert E. Jones)

Ex-President Theodore Roosevelt spent a day in Missoula in 1911. The Northern Pacific train No. 4 bearing Roosevelt whistled at exactly three minutes after 7 a.m. Tuesday, April 11, 1911, and was answered by a mighty cheer.

Crowds were everywhere at that early hour – from the middle of the streets to the tops of the buildings was a swarm of humanity. Roosevelt was escorted to Hotel Florence by a parade consisting of soldiers, Spanish War veterans, cowboys, Indians and citizens. The Indian delegation from the Flathead led by Chief Martin Charlo consisted of about 100.

Private Breakfast

At 9 a.m. a private breakfast was served to Roosevelt at the hotel. The reception committee and cowboys escorted Roosevelt to the University and at 10:45 a.m. he gave an informal talk to the public school children. In his speech from a car he advised the children to play hard, work hard and be honest.

Before noon the ex-president pleaded the cause of higher education in his address before University students and faculty in University-Hall (Main Hall). Tickets had been issued to University people and Missoulians stood in whatever space was left.

Business Halts

All Missoula business houses closed during Roosevelt’s speech to the public at 2:30 p.m. In his speech on the corner of the Montana Block, Roosevelt spoke of citizenship and his personal experience in coming to Missoula 25 years before when he was a member of the Montana Stockgrowers Association. He also spoke of the problems of government and ideals, and urged direct election of senators.

Following his address he was greeted by 500 at a reception held at the Missoula Club. Afterward there was a band concert at the corner of Higgins avenue and East Main street. At 5 p.m. Roosevelt made a trip by auto to Ft. Missoula and “Roosevelt Day” ended with a formal Banquet at Hotel Florence.

Dixon Toastmaster

About 125 prominent men were present at the banquet. Among them were Sen. Joseph M. Dixon, toastmaster; C. A. Duniway, Thomas C. Marshall, John S. Parke, Arthur L. Stone, Charles H. Hall, H. N. Savage, all who made toasts.