Categories: Virtual Exhibits

Ice Age Floods: Discovering Glacial Lake Missoula and Geology in Montana

Explore the unique clues in the Bitter Root Valley and Missoula areas that led geologist, J.T. Pardee to discover the existence of Glacial Lake Missoula in the early 1900’s. Learn how he used geologic and topographic mapping to illustrate how our landscape has been shaped by the massive glacial floods that took place at the end of the last ice age. See how topographic and geologic mapping was once done and how it is done today. For some hands-on fun, create your own topographic map illustrations using a light table and aerial photos, with historic guidelines from the United States Forest Service. Find out how the Bitter Root Valley formed millions of years ago, allowing for glaciers to exist in our mountains and learn about the animals and people who lived here during the Pliestocene Era. Discover fun facts about geology, crystal formation, and the vast amount of minerals and precious metals found in the strata of Montana. Use a microscope to see the beauty and details of specific mineral specimens and light up a case of crystals to find out which ones are translucent and which ones are opaque. Watch crystals form using take-home instructions for a fun project on growing your own edible crystals. We recommend, after exploring this exhibit, that you step outdoors and look for the unique clues of Glacial Lake Missoula and the the ice age floods that can be found throughout the Bitter Root Valley. Explore further by following the ice age flood story through Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon at various locations.