The Hidden Lady

During the extensive renovation of this historic space in Downtown Missoula, we were advised by a neighbor to exercise caution, as there might be a mural hidden in the wall somewhere. After busting a few holes in the west wall, we caught a glimpse of a painted red toe against a vintage aqua backdrop, clearly belonging to the mystery subject of an artwork on plaster behind the drywall. As we opened more of the sheetrock, we discovered a sizeable 5 x 5 foot mural of a beautiful, striking naked woman, partially shrouded in shadow, preserved and waiting patiently to be unearthed. The exact dates she was painted and later buried are a mystery, but she was likely created in the 1920s or 1930s when the unit was allegedly a speakeasy during Prohibition. Based on the old Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps kept in the University of Montana archives, this unit was designated “storage” during the 1920s. According to some archaeologist friends of ours, this likely indicates it was a speakeasy at the time, as no one would have used one of the few existing downtown spaces for storage.

We reached out to an art historian and were able to secure a grant for restoration of the piece. According to his analysis, she had likely been updated with a new background color at some point to change the aesthetic of the space and was originally “likely part of an earlier and larger allegorical rendering or potential advertisement.” The original color palette was indicative of the 1920s, and the added green background was dated to around the mid-20th century.

In honor of her, we created an amber-colored, malt-forward, classic Northwest IPA using Montana-grown barley and hops sourced from the Flathead Valley. Our Hidden Lady IPA is now one of our flagship brews and can be found in cans in several markets across Montana. You can view the restored original mural, preserved under glass, in our “Stone Room,” named for the original stone wall preserved from the earliest days of Missoula’s history.

T-shirts, stickers, and growlers featuring the Hidden Lady are available for purchase at the pub.