An 1898 illustration of the future Capitol by the architectural firm of Charles E. Bell & John H. Kent. Note that the completed dome in the photograph below is different than shown in this illustration. The shape of the dome was changed during construction in 1901.

Mr. Kirby Lambert, Curator of Art at the Montana Historical Society kindly explains: Kent originally designed a low spherical dome, a design he considered to be "pure Greek." The capitol commission initially agreed to this design, but after construction was well under way they decided that they wanted a taller, more imposing structure, and they thought that raising the dome would be the most economical way to do this. Kent opposed the changes, but Bell sided with the commission, and we can see who won. This information comes from the Historic Structure Report: Montana State Capitol Building by Jim McDonald, 1981 MANY THANKS TO MR. LAMBERT FOR THIS INFORMATION.

Bronze equestrian statue of Thomas Francis Meagher on the north side of the Capitol. The statue was cast in 1905 by the American Bronze Foundry, Chicago, Illinois.

A native of Ireland, Meagher (1823-1867) was an Irish revolutionary, a Brigadier General in the U. S. Army during the Civil War, and was appointed Secretary of the Territory of Montana in 1865. Soon after arriving in Montana, he was designated Acting Governor. He died in Fort Benton, Montana under suspicious circumstances on July 1, 1867. For more about Meagher, go here.

"Big Medicine", the sacred white buffalo (1933-1959). Although Big Medicine can still be seen, he has been such a memorable part of the Museum visit for so long that he is included here.

The birth of this white buffalo at the National Bison Range on Montana's Flathead Indian Reservation was seen as an auspicious event by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. He was well cared for, and lived beyond the normal bison life span. While he was still alive, preparations were made by the Montana Historical Society to have his form preserved for future generations.

"The Last Chancer" tour train at the Veterans and Pioneers Memorial Building, late 1950s. The tour train was created in 1954 under the auspices of "Helena, Unlimited", a not-for-profit corporation organized by the Helena Chamber of Commerce.

A city-wide contest was held in June of 1954 to name the train, which was at first little more than a gold-painted jeep pulling three cars. Some of the names suggested were "Sacajawea", "Gulch Express" and "The Six Shooter". The maiden run of "The Last Chancer" (winning name submitted by Mrs. S. J. Zahara) occured on June 15, 1954. For several years, tours began at the Great Northern depot (now demolished), at the intersection of Neill Ave. and Fuller.

During the winter of 1954-55, the jeep was upgraded to look like a locomotive at the State Training School in Boulder. It was designed by Harold Jensen and executed by Clem LaVinge.

An updated " Last Chancer" still operates today, taking passengers on a narrated tour of Helena's historic sites. Contrary to what the tour guide might tell you, no outlaws were ever hanged from the trees on the Courthouse lawn.

The Last Chancer Tour Train website

Publicity photo of the first Last Chancer, taken at the Old Brewery Theater, June 14 1954. This was the day before the official inaugural run of the Tour Train. Seated on the train are numerous local notables of the day, including Montana Governor J. Hugo Aronson behind the wheel.

The train made its maiden run the following day with H. S. "Hi" Dotson, Norman B. Holter, Mr. and Mrs. A. T. Hibbard, Mr. and Mrs. Marc Buterbaugh, Fred Heinecke, George Vucanovich, Vernon Cougill, Mr. and Mrs. John Quigley, James Dion, Harold L Paulsen, P. W. Singer, Neil MacLean, C. F. Mueller, Larry Graham, Mrs. Sherman W. Smith, Eugene Fehlig, John G. Thompson, Clem Meyer and Bryant B. Anderson aboard. Photo courtesy of Kathyryn Fehlig.
CLICK PHOTO FOR A LARGE VERSION IN A NEW WINDOW

Above is a recent photo of the keelboat Mandan in Fort Benton, Montana. The boat was built for use in the 1952 RKO motion picture "The Big Sky", starring Kirk Douglas, and adapted from Montanan A. B. Guthrie's novel.

After filiming was completed in Wyoming, the boat was shipped to the Historical Society in Helena, and put on unprotected outdoor display in back of the Veterans and Pioneers Memorial Building. In true Helena fashion, it was immediately vandalized. A fence was built around it, and it remained on display for many years.

It was eventually loaned to the city of Fort Benton, and was officially deaccessed by the Montana Historical Society in 2005.

The house was built by Mel Buck Construction on land donated by C.F. Mueller of Helena, who lived in the neighborhood. There were problems during construction; at one point, delays, cost overruns and low-grade materials had a Montana House of Representatives committee threatening to turn the building into the headquarters for the highway patrol.

Click here for a 2005 Independent Record story about the Mansion.