Helena, Montana

Day 28, We boarded our luxury motor coach and headed to the city of Helena, which used to be called Last Chance Gulch. Since it is now the state capital, thank goodness they changed the name. Starting at the Historical Society Museum for a self-guided tour. The museum was set up in themes for each section. One section was devoted to CM Russell, the artist, so you know where a lot of our guests started. This was one of his most famous works. “Waiting for a Chinook.” This was his response to his friend who asked how the cattle were faring during the harsh winter of 1886-1887. This picture made national headlines when it appeared in newspapers across the country.

I found “the white bull” most interesting. Native Americans felt the white bison calf carried sacred significance. The man who killed a white bison received his power from the sun and the “good medicine” held by the white hide extended to the hunter’s family and his entire band. In 1933, on the Flathead Indian Reservation, a white calf was born to a naturally brown mother. His fame spread thru Nat’l media and he became known as “Big Medicine.” He was not a true albino, he had blue eyes, tan hoofs, and had a topknot of dark brown hair. Normaly bisons live about 20 years, but special care was given to Big Medicine to prolong his life. He died in 1959 at the age of 26., weighing 1,193 pounds (dropping considerable weight). His hide is on display.
Here are some other favorites. I thought my son, Billy who plays hockey, would appreciate the ice skates. The beaded tennis shoes are used by the modern day Indians when performing in gymnasiums. The tennis shoes are more comfortable and they bead them to keep with tradition.

Outside the museum, we boarded the Helena Tour Train for a narrated tour of the city.

Our tour of the Capitol Building proved to be correct when North Dakota told us they used the plans from Montana to build their capitol building because they are VERY MUCH alike. Montana’s State Capitol Building was the first to have electricity.

CM Russell was commissioned to create a painting in 1911. The huge canvas, 25 ft. by 12 ft. was painted in his log cabin studio in Great Falls. Notice the wolf at the bottom in the middle of the painting. The painting is not insured as it is so expensive that the cost of the insurance would be astronomical.
After lunch, we walked over to the Great Northern Carousel where everyone got to ride it. If you ever go there, hop onto one of the “outside” animals because as you go around, you have a change to grab a ring & throw it into the basket. If you grab a “gold” ring, you get a free ride. You should have seen all the seniors riding the carousel! I think the kiddies thought we were nuts.

The cornerstone of the Cathedral of St. Helena was laid in 1908 and completed in 1913.
Col. Thomas Cruse, a well-known local miner and businessman pledged $100,000 toward the interior work of the Cathedral in memory of his recently deceased daughter. The total cost to build the Cathedral was $645,590.44. If the same structure were built today, it would cost tens of millions of dollars.

Our last tour of the day was the original Governor’s Mansion, built in 1888.

The Queen Anne style house was built by the Chessman family to reflect their wealth and influence.

It has 3 indoor bathrooms!

The Chessman family were forced to give up this lifestyle due to financial difficulties, and ended up moving across the street to the apartments that he built and once owned. His banker who foreclosed on him bought the Chessman house. I can only imagine how they must have felt watching someone else live in their home. Eventually, it became the official residence for the Governor in 1913. The daughters of the first governor to live in the house helped the historical society restore the house to resemble as it was when they lived there as children.

Day 29, headed out for Dillon, Montana. The scenic route we took was a little scary around the bend of overhanging rocks and narrow road, but it sure was beautiful.