Built in 1920 as the Montana headquarters of the Algeria Shrine, this remarkable Moorish-style building suffered damage in the 1935 earthquakes. The City of Helena purchased it shortly thereafter, making it the home of City offices, the fire and police departments, and a special events venue. Because it's still rather unusual to see a minaret in Montana, the Civic Center is a popular postcard and snapshot subject.

 

 

The Algeria Shrine Temple, intersection of Benton Ave. and Neill Ave., 1920s.
COURTESY OF TOM KILMER

 

 

Algeria Shrine Temple, 1920s.

 

 

1920's view of the Shine Temple and the Great Northern Depot, taken from Women's Park.

In 1938, the Helena Chamber of Commerce briefly entertained plans to build a log cabin history museum on the NE corner of Woman's Park. Helena women's clubs and other concerned women nixed the location because construction would have changed the original design of the park , which they felt would have been unfair to the memory of women instrumental in making the park a possibility, and would have displaced benches and fountains that had been placed as memorials.

In May of 1939, a small museum opened in the west end of the Great Northern Depot.




 

Algeria Shrine Band in front of the Temple, 1920s.

 

 

Souvenir folder featuring the Algeria Shrine Temple, 1920s

 

 

Algeria Shrine seen from Hill Park, ca. 1930. Also shown is the Confederate Fountain, donated in 1916 by the Daughters of The Confederacy. It is said to be the northermost Confederate monument. The fountain was restored, albeit not so well, with Urban Renewal money in 1971. In the distance is Mount St. Charles College, renamed Carroll College in 1932.

 

 

Earthquake damage to the Algeria Shrine, 1935. This is on the west side, along Park Ave.



 

Civic Center from Women's Park, 1940s.

 

 

 

A pleasing postcard view from the 1940s.

 

 

A postcard view taken from Hill Park, 1940s.

 

Recent photos of the Civic Center auditorium and adjacent ballroom....

 

 

Civic Center façade.

 

 


A late-afternoon view taken before 1951, when the old silver bell which once hung in the fire tower was placed on display in front of the Civic Center (see it in the following photo).

 

 

The Civic Center from Hill Park, ca.1954; fire trucks at the ready.

 

1954 Helena fire truck, purchased from The Four Wheel Drive Auto Company of Clintonville, Wisconsin.

 

 

Another mid-1950s view from Hill Park.

 


The Civic Center auditorium has hosted many notable performers over the decades.



The "Last Chancer" Tour Train on brick-paved Fuller Ave., 1956.

 

The ubiquitous Tour Train at Hill Park on Neill Ave., 1959.

 

 


1970s view of the Civic Center from Women's Park. The black dome of the minaret had by then been painted a metallic copper. Note the poor condition of the park sidewalk.