The scenic capital of the state of Montana is Helena. The town was established after gold was found there in 1864. Helena is located in west-central Montana. It lies 65 miles (105 kilometers) northeast of Butte and about 12 miles (19 kilometers) west of the Missouri River. To the west are the Rocky Mountains. Places of interestThe museum and art gallery of the Montana Historical Society are popular tourist attractions. Another is the Capitol Building, which was built in 1899. It has a copper-covered dome with a replica of the Statue of Liberty on top. The city is also the headquarters of the Helena National Forest and the site of Carroll College, a Roman Catholic school. EconomyHelena is an important agricultural and livestock trade center. Light manufacturing industries and tourism contribute to the economy as well. Nearby East Helena has smelting and refining industries. HistoryExplorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark visited the area of present-day Helena in 1805 (see Lewis and Clark Expedition). The gold prospectors who came to the region in 1864 had almost given up their search before striking gold in a gully they called Last Chance Gulch. Helena became the capital of Montana Territory in 1875. It remained the capital when Montana became a state in 1889. The mining boom in Helena ended by 1893, but the industry resumed with the demand for metals during World War I. Natural gas was piped from surrounding fields as well. Earthquakes damaged Helena in 1935, 1936, and 1937, but the town was rapidly repaired. Population (2000 census), 25,780. |