Entry No. 37 — the Missoula file — filed under: haunted
Unseen Missoula: Screams & Spirits
Screams & Spirits is the after-dark edition of Unseen Missoula, a heritage walking tour program run by Heritage Missoula and the Downtown Missoula Partnership. The roughly 90-minute, five-block route digs into the city's grimmer past, including forgotten cemeteries, abandoned buildings and old murders, rather than invented jump-scares. It is offered in October and recommended for ages 12 and up.
The story
You won't find paid actors in rubber masks jumping out from behind dumpsters on this route. Screams & Spirits is the seasonal, after-dark spin-off of Unseen Missoula—a heritage walking tour program operated by Heritage Missoula and the Downtown Missoula Partnership. Instead of cheap theatrics or invented hauntings, the tour relies on actual archival research and the uneasy reality that modern downtown footpaths sit directly over the city's grim past.
Over a roughly 90-minute, five-block walk through downtown Missoula, guides dig into documented local history that rarely makes the official tourism brochures. You'll hear about forgotten cemeteries, abandoned structures, and historical murders that occurred right on the street corners you walk past daily. It trades manufactured paranormal sensationalism for the cold, concrete details of frontier Missoula's darker chapters.
What it's like
You'll meet your guide after dark directly in front of the First Interstate Bank in downtown Missoula. Because the tour runs exclusively on chilly October evenings—typically Thursday through Sunday nights—dressing in heavy layers is non-negotiable. There are no paper tickets to keep track of at check-in, and the route moves at a steady walking pace without theatrical jump-scares, making it recommended for ages 12 and up. When the tour wraps, you're positioned right in the center of town, perfect for slipping into a nearby booth to debrief on which stop felt the most unsettling.
The move: Bundle up for a cool October evening, take the 90-minute tour to learn which downtown corners have real bodies in their history, then duck into a nearby bar to keep dissecting the creepiest stop.
📍 Before you go Offered only in October; there are no hard tickets. Dress warmly for the evening; recommended for ages 12+.
- 📍 Downtown Missoula
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: Tour begins in front of First Interstate Bank, downtown Missoula
Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Union Club Bar & Grill — Duck into this historic, century-old downtown bar right after your tour to dissect the city's darker history over a drink.
- The Wilma Theatre — Pair your historic walk with a look at Missoula's original 1921 eight-story downtown skyscraper.
- The Squashed Cat (Cattin' Around) — Continue your hunt for downtown street-level oddities with a quick stop at this 1.5-ton concrete cat sculpture.
Good to know
Where does the tour start and how long does it last?
The tour meets in front of the First Interstate Bank in downtown Missoula and covers a five-block route over approximately 90 minutes.
When are tours scheduled?
Screams & Spirits is a seasonal event offered exclusively during October, typically running Thursday through Sunday evenings.
Are there physical tickets or jump-scares?
There are no hard tickets required for check-in. The tour focuses strictly on historical true-crime, old murders, and forgotten burial sites rather than theatrical jump-scares.
Is the tour appropriate for children?
Due to the dark subject matter—including historic murders and abandoned cemeteries—the tour is recommended for ages 12 and up.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site
last checked: 2026-06-24