Last Chance Train Tour
In 1864, four prospectors struck the second biggest placer gold deposit in Montana, producing some $19 million worth of gold in just four years. In no time, Last Chance Gulch flooded with thousands of miners looking to get rich. Today, the Last Chance Train Tour, which provides hour-long tours of Helena, is a great way to experience the city’s spectacular architecture and fascinating—often quirky—history.
Myrna Loy Center
Born in Helena in 1905, Myrna “Loy” Williams would become Hollywood’s darling by the 1930s. The Myrna Loy Center for the Performing and Media Arts pays tribute to this Capital City starlet with a mission to support today’s up-and-coming Montana artists. The center has sponsored hundreds of live performances, won numerous awards, and even received national recognition for its arts program.
Capitol Building
Discover the Capitol Building’s magnificent history, ornate art, classical architecture, and role as the seat of state government on comprehensive, guided tours. Or explore the Capitol on your own with the aid of self-guided tour booklets available at the information desk on the first floor.
Helena Civic Center
Helena’s Civic Center is one of the more distinguishable structures along the city’s skyline. The building itself rises six stories high, with its unique minaret—a 17-story spire. Constructed around 1920, the Moorish revival building first served the community as an Algeria Shrine Temple. Shriners held meetings and civic functions here until 1935, when
a 6.2 earthquake struck the capital, causing more than $4 million worth of property damage. The Shriners, unable to afford repairs, sold their temple to the city in 1938. It housed government departments for many years, and in 1972, an advisory board was formed to renovate and repurpose the complex as the Helena Civic Center.
Cathedral of Saint Helena
With a vaulted ceiling and two large spires, the Cathedral of Saint Helena is one of the most recognizable churches in Montana. It is also the only gothic style cathedral in the state. The church’s devotion to its fellow man, coupled with the building’s remarkable structure, make the Cathedral of Saint Helena both figuratively and literally a beacon in the community.
Montana Historical Society Museum
The Montana Historical Society Museum collects, preserves, and interprets fine art, historical, archaeological, and ethnological artifacts that pertain to Montana and its adjoining geographic region. MHS offers guided tours, school services, conferences, workshops, classes, publications, hands-on activities, and other public events.