Roosevelt Center Capital

Thanks to generous community support, the historic third floor is now open, and the beautiful Harper Recital Hall is once again available for community use. We are thrilled that this space will allow residents and visitors to enjoy more great performances, live music, workshops, receptions, and expanded youth programming and education.

We are now in Phase 2 of the Roosevelt Center Capital Improvement Project and need your help to wrap things up! This Phase includes:

• Expansion of public bathrooms
• Building a catering kitchen
• Installing air conditioning on historic 1920s side of the building
• Expanding outdoor community green space and ADA accessible pathways
• Replacing sidewalks for safe and user-friendly access
• Purchasing an on-site storage building to allow for safe and accessible storage of tables, chairs and other event items available for rent
• Increasing the Roosevelt Center Operating Endowment to ensure the Center has the financial resources to meet operational needs for today and for tomorrow

• $1,000 Take the Next “Step” – Have your name put on a step leading to the historic third floor. 
• $750 Picture This – Bring us an old school photo and a recent picture. We’ll put your “Then” and “Now” pictures on the wall. Don’t have a current picture? We will have one photoshoot day with Schyler Allyn. 
• $500 Take a Seat – Have your name put on the back of a chair in the historic Harper Recital Hall. 

Each of the above donations can be given in five equal installments over the course of five months. Donations of any amount will make a difference and will help us Take the Final Step.  If you are interested in taking a tour, or discussing a different level of giving, please contact:

• Tracy Timmons at tracy@rlacf.org or (406) 425-0292
• Abby Edwards at abby@rlacf.org or (314) 605-7388

Roosevelt Center Timeline

2014-2017 Community Members drove the decision to purchase the Roosevelt Center and created an adaptive Re- Use Strategy and action plan. Numerous community meetings, a Citizen’s Institute on Rural Design workshop & historic preservation workshop were held. $283,000 was raised to purchase the building in 2016-2017 and a Preliminary Architectural Report was completed.

2018-2022 $749,830.55 was raised to install a new heating system, fire sprinkler system and alarm.

2023-2024 $367,578 was awarded by the Montana Department of Commerce Historic Preservation Grant to provide exterior building improvements.

2024-2025 $400,000 was received by MJ Murdock Charitable Trust to install an elevator. A total of $2M has been raised. Funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, Montana Main Street, NorthWestern Energy, Beartooth Electric, and individual donors have allowed updates to continue to the outdoor space including installation of outdoor sculpture art, an irrigation well, and a solar system for energy efficiency.