Helena Landmarks and Monuments
(Helena, Montana - MT, USA)
The premier landmark in Helena is without question the Montana State Capitol Building, which dominates East 6th Avenue and the surrounding area with its towering copper dome. However, there are certainly many more buildings and structures of significance in the city, most of which are of a historic nature and include both the Algeria Shrine Temple and the Original Governor's Mansion.
The Cathedral of Saint Helena presides over North Ewing Street with its tall twin spires, which tower for almost 74 meters / 243 feet and certainly stand out on the skyline. When Montana felt earthquake tremors in 1935, the cathedral did not escape damage, with its south tower being virtually destroyed. It was soon rebuilt and strengthened, with the whole building enjoying a major renovation program in the early 1980s, and again in the year 2002.
Perhaps the most important landmark in Montana's capital is the iconic Guardian of the Golden Gulch Fire Tower, which is believed to be just one of five remaining in the United States. This Fire Tower dates from 1884 and was built to provide its eagle-eyed watchmen with 360-degree panoramic views of Helena and beyond. In the event of a possible approaching fire, the watchmen would ring their bell to warn the residents. They would also ring their bell each evening at 20:30, which signaled the local children's curfew.
Montana State Capitol Building
Address: 1301 East 6th Avenue, Helena, Montana (MT), 59601, USA
Tel: +1 406 444 4789
A competition to design the Montana State Capitol Building was held in 1896 and although a winning design was selected, the organizers were found to be fraudulent and so the whole project was scrapped. A replacement Capitol Commission was subsequently organized and a further competition saw a new, less costly design chosen. Building work commenced, although the Commission soon began to worry that the resultant building would not be imposing enough and requested that the dome be raised considerably, much to the displeasure of the architect, who was intending the design to be of a classical Greek nature. The building was completed and opened in 1902, although two new wings were added less than a decade later. Visitors will no doubt enjoy gazing up at the underside of the dome, admiring the surrounding circular paintings, which depict periods of Montana's early years. Those able to visit the chamber of the House of Representatives should look out for the huge painting entitled 'Lewis and Clark Meeting the Flathead Indians at Ross Hole'. Of note, the
Montana Historical Society and Museum is right next door and is ideal for a combined visit.
Open hours: Monday to Saturday - 08:00 to 17:00, Sunday - 11:00 to 17:00; guided tours (on the hour), May to September, Monday to Saturday - 09:00 to 14:00, Sunday - 12:00 to 15:00; October to April, Saturday - 09:00 to 14:00
Admission: free
Original Governor's Mansion
Address: 304 North Ewing Street, Helena, Montana (MT), 59601, USA
Tel: +1 406 444 4789
The Original Governor's Mansion is a stately house located on the corner of North Ewing Street and East 6th Avenue. It was built here in 1888 and was later acquired by the state in 1913, when it began to function as the Montana Governor's official residence, right up until 1959. Now open to the public, this Queen Anne-style building is also often referred to as either the Former Montana Executive Mansion or the William Chessman Mansion. In 1970, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Open hours: guided tours (on the hour), May to September, Tuesday to Saturday - 12:00 to 15:00; October to April, Saturday - 12:00 to 15:00
Admission: charge, discounts available for children
Cathedral of Saint Helena
Address: 530 North Ewing Street, Helena, Montana (MT), 59601, USA
Tel: +1 406 442 5825
This religious landmark serves as Helena's Roman Catholic Diocese and was the result of much planning. A site for its erection was chosen in 1905 and after designs were approved, the very first cornerstone was laid towards the end of 1908. The cathedral began hosting its masses in 1914, although it was not actually deemed to be completed in its entirety until the summer of 1924. In total, 59 stained-glass windows were imported from Munich, including a series depicting the Biblical characters Adam and Eve.
Open hours: guided tours, May to August, Tuesday to Thursday - 13:00 to 15:00, September to April - by appointment
Admission: free
Algeria Shrine Temple (Helena Civic Center)
Address: 340 Neill Avenue, Helena, Montana (MT), 59601, USA
Tel: +1 406 447 8481
Built in the year 1919 and added to the National Register of Historic Places at the end of the 1980s, the Algeria Shrine Temple now goes by the name of the Helena Civic Center. The landmark itself is easy to spot, since it features very distinctive Moorish Revival architecture, complete with a tall white tower that is clearly visible from a distance. When it opened, it was used for meetings of the Algeria Shriners (a type of Freemasons officially named the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine), and regularly played host to civic functions. Inside, the spacious auditorium is able to accommodate seated audiences of some 2,000 people, while there is also a large exhibition hall where conferences, crafts shows and other events take place throughout the course of the year.
Open hours: Monday to Friday - 08:30 to 17:00
Admission: free
Fire Tower - Guardian of the Golden Gulch
Address: South Cruse Street / Broadway Street, Helena, Montana (MT), 59601, USA
Regarded by many as nothing short of the symbol of the city, the Fire Tower is affectionately referred to as the 'Guardian of the Gulch'. This wooden tower was built as a fire lookout in the middle of the 1880s and is situated on Tower Hill, boasting superb views of downtown Helena. Previously, less solid fire towers have stood here over the years, since the area once suffered a number of severe fires, such as those of 1869, 1871, 1872 and 1874, which kept destroying the old mining camp and causing endless problems. Controversy raised its head in 2011, following the tower's renovation work, where the wooden shingles were themselves deemed to be a fire hazard and resulted in a major court case when a disgruntled local raised the issue.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free
Canyon Ferry Dam
Address: 7700 Canyon Ferry Road, Helena, Montana (MT), 59602, USA
Tel: +1 406 475 3310
This giant concrete gravity dam is to be found on the eastern side of Helena, where it makes the most of the natural narrow valley formed along this course of the Missouri River. The dam is located at the point where the Spokane Hills and the Big Belt Mountains meet. This giant construction measures almost 70 meters / 230 feet in height and was built between the years 1949 and 1954, in order to manage flood control, produce hydroelectric power and irrigate crops. The resultant creation of the reservoir named Canyon Ferry Lake provides numerous recreational opportunities, such as fishing and boats, as well as forming an important wildlife reserve. However, when the dam began to form this man-made reservoir, it was sadly necessary to flood and completely submerge the town of Canton.
Open hours: daily
Admission: free