History of Helena

July 14, 1864 - four miners, known as the "The four Georgians", made one last attempt to strike gold - their "Last Chance." It paid off. They struck gold alongside a mountain stream that evening, and named the banks of that stream "Last Chance." By the next summer, word of the gold strike had spread to miners everywhere, and they quickly converged on the area, laying the foundation of a mining community that would later become Helena.

Within just a few short years, hundreds of businesses sprouted up and the mining community stretched for several blocks in all directions. Unfortunately, most of these businesses were housed in wooden buildings which were later ravaged by several major fires. These buildings were replaced by brick and stone buildings, transforming Helena from a mining encampment into a real town.

The wealthy mines around Helena grew in importance as other mines around the Territory played out. The Territorial Capital was moved from Virginia City to Helena in 1875. Trade flourished up and down the banks of the Missouri River and by 1880, Helena had blossomed into a town with over 3,000 residents. The railroad came through in 1883 bringing with it a population explosion and an economic boom. The mining barons built lavish buildings and homes in Victorian, French, and Romanesque styles.