Location: Helena, Lewis and Clark County
On April 28, 1933, the first Montana recruits for the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) began their service, marking the state's participation in one of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's most successful New Deal programs. The CCC provided employment for young men during the Great Depression, engaging them in conservation projects across the state, such as reforestation, soil erosion control, and the development of state and national parks. Thousands of Montanans joined the CCC, contributing significantly to the state's infrastructure and natural resource management while gaining valuable skills and earning wages that supported their families. The program had a profound impact on Montana's landscape and its communities, leaving a lasting legacy of public works and conservation efforts. This day represents a pivotal moment in Montana's response to the economic crisis of the 1930s and its commitment to environmental stewardship.