Blue Mountain Women's Clinic was founded in 1977 as a feminist health clinic to address the lack of access to abortion care in Montana. The Clinic is a 501 (c) 3, non-profit organization.
Over time, as people grew to trust Blue Mountain Clinic's quality of services and non-judgmental delivery of information and options, the clinic expanded its range of services to include services for men and children resulting in a comprehensive family practice. In 1991 Blue Mountain Women's Clinic became Blue Mountain Clinic to reflect this evolution.
Since its inception, Blue Mountain Clinic has provided countless hours of community service, from speakers in schools to blood pressure monitoring at the Senior Citizen's Center. The Clinic has served as a training site for University of Montana students in psychology, social work, guidance and counseling, and business administration. Students from Montana State University School of Nursing have gone through their practicums in community health, ob-gyn and management at Blue Mountain Clinic.
While providing top quality care and safe access to abortion, Blue Mountain Clinic has also been a lightening rod for anti-choice activists who have targeted the clinic for its role in providing abortions. In the early morning of March 29, 1993, the clinic was firebombed and destroyed by an anti-choice arsonist. These images show what was left of the clinic after the fire. Luckily, no one was injured as the arsonist carried out the attack while the clinic was closed. The fire was a major hurdle in the history of the clinic but the absence of the clinic in the Missoula community resulted in an almost immediate call to rebuild.
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In September of 1995, the Clinic reopened in our current location on California Street. After two and a half years of tears, sweat and generous support within and outside of the community, the clinic was back on its feet in a new building specifically designed to withstand another attack.
In 2005, Blue Mountain Clinic celebrated 10 years in the new building. In the years since the firebombing, our family practice and other services have grown into a full-service medical clinic. And we've had the support of our community through it all.
Inscribed and posted inside the front entrance are these words, a reminder yet of the challenges and successes in the history of Blue Mountain Clinic.
" Like a tree that's standing by the water, we shall not be moved. Dedicated to those who helped restore this symbol of personal freedom."