{"id":657,"featured":0,"modified":"2026-04-17 19:40:08","latitude":48.50274319999999761421349830925464630126953125,"longitude":-109.7936746999999968465999700129032135009765625,"title":"Officers&#039; Amusement Hall","subtitle":"Fort Assinniboine Historic District","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/1f9d9e719c0a58fb68496af49d3ba030.jpg","address":"County Road 82nd Avenue West, .5 miles southeast of US 87, Havre, Montana","all_locations":[],"zoom":15,"creator":["Montana National Register Sign Program"],"description":"Fort Assinniboine officers pooled their resources to pay enlisted men an extra .25 per day to build a gathering place for the officers, their wives, and visiting dignitaries. Troops likely quarried the stone for the one-story building in the Missouri River Breaks. The fort’s women decorated the hall, often called the “Hop Room” for the frequent informal dances (or “hops”) held there. Members of the military band stationed at the post regularly played for hops, balls, and cotillions, attended both by visitors staying at the fort and officers and their wives stationed elsewhere in Montana, including Fort Maginnis (over 150 miles away). Other amusements included parlor games and eight-course banquets. A hand-painted mural, once a backdrop for frequent performances, remains on the interior. Lieutenant John Pershing, stationed at the fort in 1895-96, was reportedly an avid participant in the amateur theatricals. The fort’s most famous resident, Pershing earned his place in history as the commanding general during World War I. In the 1930s, the Agricultural Research Center used the building, now empty, as a garage.","sponsor":null,"accessinfo":"Public","lede":"","website":"<a href=\"https://fortassinniboine.org/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Learn more about Fort Assinniboine Historic District</a>","related_resources":["<a href=\"https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/8448e908-ee2f-4275-acd3-616d970e8ffa\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Read about Fort Assinniboine Historic District</a>","<a href=\"https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/44b2deeb-b5e9-4bb0-aab0-c506828ea306/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">See photos of Fort Assinniboine Historic District</a>"],"factoids":[],"files":{"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/1f9d9e719c0a58fb68496af49d3ba030.jpg":{"id":1713,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Officers&#039; Amusement Hall","description":"Officers&#039; Amusement Hall. Front view of the building, facing northeast from the yard of the hall with the officers&#039; apartment quarters in the background to the north. | Montana State Historic Preservation Office | Oct. 2015- June 2016 | Becki Miller","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/1f9d9e719c0a58fb68496af49d3ba030.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/25aace6603e6cdb184fda214e447e70f.jpg":{"id":1712,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Officers&#039; Amusement Hall","description":"Officers&#039; Amusement Hall. Side view of the building, facing northwest from the driveway leading into the rear lot of the officers&#039; apartment quarters off of Fort Circle. | Montana State Historic Preservation Office | Oct. 2015- June 2016 | Becki Miller","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/25aace6603e6cdb184fda214e447e70f.jpg"},"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/19761b8d2c137fba0a28eb265de873c6.jpg":{"id":1714,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Officers&#039; Amusement Hall","description":"Officers&#039; Amusement Hall. Side to front view of the building, facing southeast nearest to the Library to the northwest of this structure. The main entry is visible in this photograph as well. | Montana State Historic Preservation Office | Oct. 2015- June 2016 | Becki Miller","thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/19761b8d2c137fba0a28eb265de873c6.jpg"}}}