What Is the Polebridge Mercantile?
The Polebridge Mercantile is an iconic, red shop on the edge of Glacier National Park that’s still open for food, souvenirs, and lodging!
What Makes It Historical?
This mercantile was originally called Adair’s, having been hand-built by Bill Adair in 1914, who had staked his claim here in 1912 under the Forest Homestead Act of 1906! Until 1920, this was the only mercantile to be found for 900 square miles in the North Fork Valley! Mr. Adair got his first competitor that year, about a half mile north, who got a postal contract and thus became the first Polebridge mercantile!
Competition or no, Mr. Adair kept hustling, sending a weekly supply wagon, truck, or sleigh to Belton, 35 miles southeast on the Great Northern Railroad line so he could keep his mercantile stocked! The Great Depression shut down his competition, which meant the post office moved to Adair’s and brought the Polebridge name with it! The Polebridge Mercantile is still a popular shop with park visitors, and since 1994, it’s been famous for its huckleberry bear claws! It’s held onto its remote charm in a community with no paved roads, cell service, or a power grid (generators only in Polebridge)!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Buy something from the mercantile’s online shop!
- Become a member of the Montana Historical Society!
- Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
How Do I Get There?
265 Polebridge Loop
Polebridge, MT 59928
(Take Me There!)
When Should I Visit?
The mercantile is open daily from the first Thursday in April to the last Monday in October! In spring and fall, hours are 9:00 AM until 6:00 PM, and between Memorial Day and Labor Day, hours are 7:00 AM until 9:00 PM!
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