Without a doubt, the tallest structure within the village is the old Mount Roberts forestry lookout tower. With a chain link fence surrounding it, the tower is now just a historic museum display, no longer usable as a lookout tower. When still doing duty as a lookout tower in the Kootenai National Forest the Mount Roberts Lookout Tower stood about 17.5 km (10.85 mi) south southeast of its present location in the Tobacco Valley Historical Village.
A fairly straightforward 6 x 6 foot square wood frame cab with a hipped roof, the tower rested high atop a steel support structure, 40 feet in height. Wide double shutters on all four sides cover openings which allowed a 360° view of the surroundings. A short history of the lookout is reproduced below.
The village was closed the day we visited, however we wandered freely throughout the historical village.
There are many interesting displays, including farm equipment, wagons, a lookout tower, many historical buildings, a bright red caboose and much more. Many sign boards located at various locations explain some of Eureka's unique history, local culture and flora and fauna.
ROBERT'S MOUNTAIN
Kootenai National Forest
1924: A 40-foot non-standard steel tower with a 6 x 6 foot wood frame cab was erected.
July 2, 1952: (Continued from this date at Gibraltar Ridge) "In 1924 he (Ross "Shorty' Young) was transferred to Robert's lookout some miles west of Fortine, and was to spend the rest of his summers there on duty until his retirement Nov. 30, 1943."
(The Inter Lake)
April 25, 1976: "The fire lookout once sat on top of Mount Roberts near Fortine and future visitors will be able to climb into it to see how forest fires are spotted."
(The Daily Inter Lake ) (The bicentennial Commission gave a $1,000 matching grant to the museum at Eureka for its historical village which includes the lookout that was removed from Roberts)
1979: The tower was removed to the City Park at Eureka.
From Montana Lookouts