About Helena

Montana’s state capital, Helena, is a perfect mid-point between Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park. The town was the location of one of Montana’s earliest gold discoveries, and came to be in 1864 when prospectors struck gold on what they named “Last Chance Gulch”, now the main street of town. To the present day, Helena retains much of the charm of a 19th century mining town. Many of the old buildings have been renovated and 19th century Victorian homes and mansions fill Helena’s old neighborhoods.

Explore the brick-laden streets of Reeder’s Alley, an untouched street from the pioneer days. Visit the Cathedral of Saint Helena – an historic cathedral with European-inspired architecture, featuring intricate stained-glass windows, a striking altar, and a vaulted roof, set on a scenic hill with panoramic views.

Ride the Last Chance Tour Train for a tour showing the state buildings, interesting features on Last Chance Gulch (now Main Street), and the west-side mansion districts. On the tour you will see the unique downtown architecture, Montana’s impressive State Capitol, and the homes of Helena’s mining millionaires, including the Victorian beauty that served as the home of Montana’s Governors from 1913 to 1959.

Visit the Montana Historical Society Museum for a chance to see some of the 50,000 artifacts in their collection which relates to all aspects of Montana history and culture. Their Native American collection contains artifacts from each of the many tribes who have called Montana home and is especially strong in early reservation-era Blackfeet, Sioux, and Salish materials. They also have costumes and textiles, transport artifacts, historic firearms, and mining industry objects. You can also visit the Original Governor’s Mansion, a three-story Queen Anne-Style mansion operated as an historic house museum with a strong display of decorative arts and furnishings.

At the end of the day, sit back and relax in one of Helena’s many eateries, serving fresh and local food, or sample a Montana-made brew, at one of the town’s craft breweries.

Interesting Facts About Helena

• By 1888, about 50 millionaires lived in Helena, more per capita than in any city in the world. They had made their fortunes from gold. It is estimated that about $3.6 billion worth of gold in today’s money was extracted from Helena during this period.
• The town was originally founded as a gold mining camp called “Last Chance Gulch”, so named because the gold was found on what was to be the men’s last attempt, before they would have to leave empty-handed.
• On October 30, 1864, a group of men met to re-name the town, authorize the layout of the streets, and elect commissioners. Nominations for the town’s name included Pumpkinville and Squashtown, due to the meeting being held the day before Halloween, but final agreement was reached on Helena (named after Helena, Minnesota).