The Roosevelt Center, once a quiet, vacant brick schoolhouse, has been reborn as Red Lodge’s hub for art, history, and community. Sitting along Main Street, with the jagged peaks of the Beartooth Front rising behind it, the building glows in the morning light. Inside and out, permanent art installations bring the space alive. Mitch Lagge, building coordinator and sound engineer, guides visitors through these spaces, where color, texture, and sound reflect Red Lodge’s enduring artistic spirit and connection to its mountain landscape.

Built in 1921, the Old Roosevelt School served generations of local children and immigrant miners from Austria, Croatia, and Serbia who settled here. By 2016, after years of vacancy, the Red Lodge Area Community Foundation purchased the building, envisioning a space that could honor its history while creating a vibrant venue for the arts. Today, floors have been refinished, an elevator installed, and an ADA-accessible stage created, all designed to support performances, educational programs, community gatherings, and conferences.

The Roosevelt Center’s mission is to engage the community and visitors alike, preserving Red Lodge’s cultural heritage while fostering creative growth. By revitalizing this historic building, the Center supports local artists, incubates new creative projects, and provides both indoor and outdoor spaces for interaction, conversation, and celebration. It strengthens Main Street’s economy, encourages sustainable use of historic structures, and offers platforms for public dialogue, youth engagement, and cultural exchange.

Every year, dozens of performances, exhibitions, and workshops fill the Center, from music, dance, and theater to visual arts and writing programs. Rotating exhibits ensure fresh perspectives, while permanent installations remain a reminder of Red Lodge’s rich artistic legacy. Musicians, painters, writers, and nonprofits all find a home here, contributing to a living, breathing center that honors the past while inspiring the future.

Step inside the Roosevelt Center to meet artists, friends, and staff, and experience the arts and culture of Montana’s Yellowstone Country. Visit rooseveltcenterredlodge.org to view upcoming events and learn more about our mission to restore, reuse, and revitalize.