Helmsley Charitable Trust Awards $186,000 to Support Interpretation Research and Planning at Judith Landing State Park

WINIFRED, Mont. — The Montana State Parks Foundation announced today that it has received a $186,000 grant from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust to support a major research and interpretive planning initiative at Judith Landing State Park, Montana’s newest state park along the Missouri River.

The funding will support interdisciplinary research and interpretation planning that will guide how the park’s stories are shared with visitors for generations to come.

Established in 2025 through the donation of 109 acres by the Montana State Parks Foundation and American Prairie, Judith Landing State Park preserves an important confluence landscape surrounded by the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument. The area reflects centuries of interconnected stories, including significant Indigenous presence, early exploration, the fur trade, steamboat travel, ranching heritage, and paleontological discovery.

“Judith Landing is a remarkable place where the landscapes of the Missouri River Breaks connect people to centuries of history,” said Walter Panzirer, a Trustee of the Helmsley Charitable Trust. “By supporting research and interpretation at the park, this project will help ensure that visitors can experience and understand the cultural and natural significance of this landscape for generations to come.”

The Helmsley grant will fund a comprehensive research effort to inform the park’s interpretive framework. Planned work includes:

• ●  Ethnographic research with Indigenous partners

• ●  Oral history collection with local ranching families

• ●  A biological inventory of the surrounding landscape

• ●  Development of a comprehensive interpretive plan

  Together, these efforts will guide the design of interpretive exhibits, educational materials, sustainable development and visitor experiences.

“The stories connected to Judith Landing span generations and cultures,” said Cannon Colegrove, Judith Landing State Park Manager with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. “This research will help us ensure that the park’s interpretation reflects the full depth of its history while creating meaningful opportunities for visitors to connect with the landscape.” The mission of the Judith Landing State Park Interpretation Plan is to guide the development of meaningful, accurate, and inclusive interpretive experiences that illuminate the cultural, tribal, historical, and ecological significance of this confluence landscape. The plan aims to strengthen visitor understanding of the peoples, events, and lifeways connected to this place while promoting responsible recreation and supporting Montana State Parks’ mission to preserve heritage resources for public benefit.

Through collaborative research, respectful representation, community engagement, and thoughtful site based design, the interpretive plan will foster deeper visitor connection, inspire stewardship, and ensure that Judith Landing’s diverse narratives are shared with present and future generations.

While the State of Montana has invested significantly in foundational park infrastructure, including trails, campsites, and stabilization of historic buildings, no state funding had been designated for the research needed to fully understand and interpret the site’s unique and complex history. The Helmsley grant fills this critical gap and ensures that interpretation at Judith Landing State Park will be grounded in rigorous scholarship and community collaboration.

“This project ensures that the stories of Judith Landing are preserved and shared in a way that honors the many communities connected to this landscape,” said Megan Buecking, Executive Director of the Montana State Parks Foundation. “Through research, community engagement, and partnership with Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, we’re building the foundation for a heritage park experience that reflects the depth and diversity of this place.”

Located on the Missouri River, Judith Landing State Park is expected to become a destination for visitors seeking both outdoor recreation and opportunities to explore Montana’s rich cultural and natural heritage. The research and interpretive planning supported by the Helmsley Charitable Trust will help ensure that this nationally significant landscape is interpreted with depth, accuracy, and respect.

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About the Montana State Parks Foundation

The Montana State Parks Foundation is the official nonprofit partner of Montana State Parks. The organization supports park improvements, historic preservation, accessibility initiatives, and community engagement projects that enhance Montana’s 56 state parks.

About the Helmsley Charitable Trust

The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust aspires to improve lives by supporting exceptional efforts in the U.S. and around the world in health and select place-based initiatives. Since beginning active grantmaking in 2008, Helmsley has granted more than $4.5 billion for a wide range of charitable purposes. Helmsley’s Rural Healthcare Program funds innovative projects that use information technologies to connect rural patients to emergency medical care, bring the latest medical therapies to patients in remote areas, and provide state-of-the-art training for rural hospitals and EMS personnel. To date, this program has awarded more than $850 million to organizations and initiatives in the states of Hawaii, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and two U.S. Pacific territories, American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. For more information, visit www.helmsleytrust.org.