Thanks to funding from the Glacier National Park Conservancy, the park was able to digitize and assemble highlights from a collection of historic motion picture film reels. Without their support and the generous support of their donors, these fascinating time capsules would still be "trapped" on fragile reels of film!
These film clips are snapshots from different times. Some depict activities that are dangerous and illegal today. For example, disturbing or feeding any wildlife is illegal. To learn more, see Glacier’s laws and policies.
For usage requests or for more information on the park archives, please contact us.
Due to the nature of archival collections, we are not always able to identify third party rights of privacy, publicity, copyright or trademark. We are eager to hear from any rights owners—please contact us with any information or concerns.
This black-and-white and silent travelogue was produced by the Great Northern Railway circa 1930, before the Going-to-the-Sun Road was completed in Glacier National Park. Although the film shows early visitors interacting with wildlife, disturbing and feeding wildlife is illegal today.
This black-and-white silent film was made during the construction of the Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park circa 1927-1933. It shows the monumental task of building a road on the side of a mountain using early machinery and methods. Although the film shows a bear being fed, please know that this is illegal today.
The Going-to-the-Sun Chalets were built in 1915 by the Great Northern Railway as part of a network of hotels, chalets and tent camps designed for passengers arriving by train. These Swiss-style chalets sat high above St. Mary Lake and were gone by the late 1940s.
This series of clips shows various winter activities in the park. Temperatures in Montana have risen almost 2.5°F since the early 1900s - lake ice rarely freezes solid, and this type of skating party is likely a relic of the past. Be safe around ice in Glacier National Park! If you have any information to share about the content of the film, please contact us.
This collection of clips from the 1920s-1960s shows scenes from some of Glacier's historic lodges. If you've visited any of these places before, you'll see some familiar sights!
This collection of historic clips shows visitors at Sperry and Grinnell glaciers from the 1930s to 1960s. In addition to being visual records of glacier change over time; these clips also show changes in approaches to safety over time! The park's glaciers are dynamic, unstable surfaces with many hazards. Walking on glacial ice is risky and not recommended.
This collection of archival film clips from 1945-1950 highlights field work carried out by Glacier and U.S. Geological Survey staff to monitor changes in some of the park's glaciers.
This selection of clips from the 1930s-1940s show park staff working to clear snow from the Going-to-the-Sun Road - a monumental task that continues to this day.
The first in a series of four highlight reels about the experience of driving the park's famous road from the 1930s-1960s. The 1930s was a time of great change with the completion of this new road.
The second in a series of four highlight reels showing the experience of driving the Sun Road from the 1930s through the 1960s. The 1940s saw wartime closures and reductions of park services -- and big increases in visitation after the war ended and things reopened.
The third in a series of four highlight reels showing archival footage of driving the Going-to-the-Sun Road from the 1930s through the 1960s. The 1950s began a period of modernization and expansion of services along the road.
The last in a series of four highlight reels showing the visitor experience of driving the Going-to-the-Sun Road from the 1930s through the 1960s. A big part of the 1960s along the road was 'Mission 66' programs designed to improve park infrastructure.
