The Visitor Centre – A Glimpse Into St. Marie’s Past
Among the abandoned streets of St. Marie, the Visitor Centre stands as one of the town’s largest and most intriguing remnants. At first glance, the building felt unsettling—especially with the morbid token we discovered near the front doors. But once inside, the atmosphere shifted, and the building began to tell its story.
Long before its conversion, this site served as the community’s elementary school. Its hexagonal gym—a rare architectural feature—still feels strangely vibrant, as if echoing the energy of schoolchildren long gone. When the base closed and the town changed hands, the building became the hub for rental offices, managing the rows of homes now sitting quiet under the Montana sky.
The northeast wing held the most unexpected find. What we first thought were abandoned examination beds turned out to be old sun tanning beds, their UV lights long removed and their frames gathering dust. It was a reminder of the unique amenities this Cold War-era town once enjoyed—amenities that, for a time, gave St. Marie a sense of pride and community.
This stop marked the end of a 14-hour exploration through every forgotten corner of the town. Exhausted but exhilarated, we made the 20-mile drive back to our base camp, unaware that overnight the weather would transform everything into a surreal ice-coated wonderland.