Montana’s state capital, Helena, mixes politics with outdoor recreation against an authentic mining backdrop. Spread along the Missouri River at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, this medium-sized city is populated by weekend wilderness warriors, politicians, and artists. Helena’s mining roots add a fun Wild West element to the town’s facade, attracting tourists from all around.
Once a lawless gold mining boomtown, Helena survived the inevitable bust and went to on position itself as the state’s seat of government. The old saloons and brothels in the historic downtown district have been wonderfully restored and converted into art galleries, coffee shops and cafés. The town made its fortune at Last Chance Gulch, which remains one of Helena’s most interesting main streets.
The town’s colorful past can still be felt in the architecture in the historic district, which is where most visitors will want to spend their time. Modern sculptures depict historic events and interpretive signs along the pedestrian mall add background information to the scene. Walking tour maps are available at the Visitor’s Bureau, which is the best place to begin your explorations of this Wild West town.
Highlights
Montana Historical Society Museum: a great place to start your tour of Helena is at this well-rounded museum housing both the MacKay Gallery, a permanent exhibit of Charlie Russell’s artwork; and the Montana Homeland Gallery, which presents the history of the region.
Last Chance Gulch: the very source of Helena lies on this downtown street; the site of the big gold discovery. Today, the historic buildings are protected and contain boutique shops and cafés instead of brothels and saloons.
Last Chance Tour Train: get your bearings of Helena while you learn a few things about its history during this fun historic street tour of the town’s most important sites.
Holter Museum of Art: one of Montana’s premier art galleries features work from a diverse range of media, specializing in modern art from the Northwestern region of the US.
Gates of the Mountains: a fun and easy way to see the backcountry around Helena is on a 2-hour boat cruise up the Missouri River past towering cliffs, Indian rock art and lots of wildlife.
Mount Helena City Park: nine trails cover this 628 acre wilderness park right on the edge of the city, including one to Mount Helena, where the views are stupendous.