10/28/2026
The original house on the grounds of the Daly Mansion was the Chaffin family ranch house, built in 1876. Although the house was later incorporated into the Mansion through subsequent remodels, that means parts of the Mansion have stood on these very grounds for 150 years!
Maintaining a home with roots that predate Montana’s statehood is quite a feat, but the Mansion grounds hold stories of even older residents.
With help from a few sharp-eyed 4th graders from Daly Elementary School, during our school tours this past week, we had quite the hoot spotting what may be a descendant of some of those longtime residents.
Over the years, we’ve been lucky enough to spot several owl families making themselves at home in our trees. While we can’t say for sure how long they’ve been here, we like to think these feathered neighbors were around long before us—and we hope they’ll be here long after us.
After all, history isn’t just found in old houses and historic photographs. Sometimes, it’s perched right above our heads.
