Frontier History
Father Anthony Ravalli Dies at St. Mary’s Mission, 1884
Stevensville, Ravalli County
On October 2, 1884, Jesuit priest Anthony Ravalli died at St. Mary’s Mission in the Bitterroot Valley. Nearly forty years after he first reached the valley in 1845, the Italian-born missionary ended his life among the Salish community he had served as priest, builder, and healer.
Ravalli designed and helped raise mission buildings, practiced medicine when no other doctor was near, and became one of the most widely known clerics in territorial Montana. St. Mary’s had closed and reopened across those decades; Ravalli returned to stay.
His death closed a founding chapter of Catholic mission work in western Montana. The Stevensville landscape still carries the imprint of the mission he helped shape.
Frequently asked questions
What happened on October 2 in Montana history?
Father Anthony Ravalli Dies at St. Mary’s Mission, 1884. On October 2, 1884, Jesuit priest Anthony Ravalli died at St. Mary’s Mission in the Bitterroot Valley. Nearly forty years after he first reached the valley in 1845, the Italian-born missionary ended his life among the Salish community he had served as priest, builder, and healer.
Where did this take place?
This October 2 event is associated with Stevensville, Ravalli County.
When did this event happen?
It took place in 1884, on October 2.
Why does this day matter in Montana history?
His death closed a founding chapter of Catholic mission work in western Montana. The Stevensville landscape still carries the imprint of the mission he helped shape.
Topics: Anthony Ravalli · St. Mary's Mission · Jesuits · Bitterroot · 1884