This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!
Helena Montana's early history and name origin story
In 1864 a Georgia prospecting party found rich gold near Last Chance Gulch, sparking Helena’s birth. The town was named by Minnesota foreman John Summerville, inspired by his hometown Helena, and grew with churches schools and a capitol. fires tested it, yet it flourished with improvements and institutions.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Georgia
Richard Stanwood
John Cowan
John Crab
John Miller
Last Chance Gulch
Mullan
Prickly Pear
G. J. Wood
John Summerville
Thomas K. Cooper
North Dakota
Tomah
Minnesota
Helena
Scott County
Thia
Scott
Broadway
Rodney Street
Oliver’s Express
John Potter
Taylor & Thompson
Park Street
A. B. Patch
T. F. Campbell
E. McLaughlin
Methodist Episcopal Church
Toilet Street
M. A. Hough
Jay Gould
New York City
Ewing Streets
Oak Street
Alao
St. John’s Hospital
Episcopal Church
St. Peter's Hospital
Brewer
Virginia City
Capitol
United States
United States Land Office
John Kinna
BK. W. Knight
T. Wi. Klein Schmidt
Fort Harrisonia
Constance and
Jurgens
Upper Main Street
Helens
KE. S. Wilkinson
Independent
Deer Lodge City
Montana Daily Record
Corinne
Utah
J. B. Anthony
Boulder Valley
Rodney
Pocock
Harry Slater
Johnny Keene
Davia
Dry Gulch
W. G. Shippen
Butte
Maxwell, Rollins, & Co
Owybee Park
George M. Piemey
Lee
Perkins and Hughes
Atore
Gane and Klien
Masonic Lodge
Colorado
Gaus and Klein's
Montana
Florence Crittenton
Kenwood
Charles N. Crittenton Goon
Florence
the Home
New York
The
Library Association
Society of
Montana Pioneers
Montana Historical Society
Legisative Assembly
Lewis and Clark County Court House
Historical Society
State
State Library
Molitor