Helena Montana History

Although the Helena area was never a Native American village, there is evidence that tribes like the Blackfeet, the Crow and the Bannock moved through the area about 12,000 years ago. In 1805 and 1806, the Lewis and Clark Expedition also passed through the area. In 1864, four gold seekers from Georgia came in search of their fortunes. After months of failure in other parts of Montana, the desperate foursome decided to pan for gold one more time in a nearby creek. Lady Luck was finally kind. The prospectors found their gold and named their claim Last Chance Gulch. Good news spread fast and would-be miners poured into the area. Initially, the settlement was called Crabtown after one of the lucky four, John Crab. As more miners arrived in town, there were calls for a new name. Squashtown, Pumpkinville, Tomah and Saint Helena were discussed as possibilities. Saint Helena won out, but was soon shortened to Helena and pronounced Hell-en-a (emphasis on Hell). Montana became a territory of the United States in 1864 and Helena was selected as the capital in 1875.

The Northern Pacific Railroad came to Helena in 1883 bringing more settlers and growth to the small town. Following a series of devastating fire throughout the mining camp and town, the Guardian of the Gulch fire watch tower was built in 1886 and remains on Tower Hill overlooking downtown Helena. After about twenty years the gold ran out in Last Chance Gulch, but not before over $3.6 billion of gold in today’s dollars made many miners millionaires. By 1888, there were more millionaires per capita living in Helena than in any city in the world. Today, treasure seekers still come to Helena and pan for gold, sapphires, topaz, garnets and rubies; occasionally, they get lucky and find a few stones. Along the way, they always discover the hospitality and heritage of Helena.