Helena
Born during the Gold Rush of 1864, Helena is cradled in the foothills of the Montana Rockies and is alive with history and culture. A rare town that has managed to uniquely blend it's past and present; Helena is the capital of the state of Montana.
Rich in history, Helena offers a wide variety of browsing and shopping. The Pedestrian Walking Mall is an area with historical sites and an array of coffeehouses and unique shops. There is also the Capitol Hill Mall that has larger retail stores and numerous specialty shops.
Restaurants and coffeehouses are abundant in Helena. They range from fine dining to deli's to fast food while there are an array of bar and grill's.
Helena has plenty of reasons to make you go out and play. The area is surrounded by endless opportunities for outdoor activities. The area offers skiing, snow boarding, snowmobiling, boating, golfing, swimming, bicycling, fishing, hunting and camping.
If your favorite activity is being in or near the water, then Holter, Hauser, Canyon Ferry and Spring Meadow Lakes are the place to be. You can even ice fish in the winter.
For golfers, there are two public golf courses, Bill Roberts Municipal Golf Course and Fox Ridge Golf Course and Green Meadow Country Club which is semi private.
The Gates of the Mountains, northeast of Helena is one of the most beautiful areas to visit. The Missouri River flows through a gorge cut deep in the mountains. Daily boat tours follow the river as it passes through the Gates. You can see Mountain goats high up on the cliffs and there are ancient Indian paintings on the walls of the canyon.
There are quite a few day trips you can take from the Helena area. You can go sapphire hunting at the Spokane Bar Mine, view waterfowl at the Canyon Ferry Management Area, relax in hot mineral waters at Boulder Hot Springs, or visit Tizer Botanic Gardens & Arboretum to see the thousands of flowering plants, themed gardens and trails.
Mount Helena, the largest park in Helena, includes 630 acres of trails that offer spectacular views of the city and the gulches of south Helena.
Helena has many activities for kids. The Centennial Waterslide Park offers temperature controlled slides and pools for swimming, Sherron Water-Splash Park offers a variety of interactive water fountains and sprays and the Helena Skate Park is free to all boarders and in-line skaters.
Exploration Works is an innovative, hands-on Museum of Science and Cultures, where learning is active,participatory and reciprocal. It is also know as the "Museum without Walls."
Don't forget to stop by and take a ride on the Great Northern Carousel, which has two chariots and features 38 animals. Since the Carousel is enclosed, it is a year-round attraction.
The most visited attraction in Helena is the Montana Historical Society Museum. Hundreds of exhibits tell the stories of the early Indians, trappers, miners and homesteaders. Across the street from the Museum is the State Capitol Building. The main landmark in the city is St. Helena Cathedral. The Cathedral is a magnificent building and an inspiring place to go for worship.
The Holter Museum of Art features the very best in regional fine arts and crafts, with new shows opening every six weeks. For over 30 years the Western Rendezvous of Art has auctioned hundreds of paintings and sculpture from the West's most talented artists.
The Granstreet Theater produces some of the best in classic and modern plays each season, while the Montana Shakespeare Company produces full length productions of Shakespeare's great works.
Visit the Helena Symphony & Chorale to listen to wonderful music and the Myrna Loy Center, originally the county jail, which highlights foreign films, music and hosts ballet and modern dance.
During the summer Helena plays hosts to the Mount Helena Music Festival, the Last Chance Bluegrass Festival and Farmer's Market every Saturday. These activities are not to be missed.
There are a wide range of medical services that are offered in the Helena area. The city has one hospital, St. Helena Hospital.
Helena is a wonderful place to raise a family and get an education. The Helena Public Schools are committed to lifelong learning. Their school district consists of a special-ed preschool, 11 elementary schools, two middle schools, three high schools (two traditional and one non-traditional for students with specific needs), one transitional school, an Adult Learning Center and a Community Education Program.
Carroll College was founded in 1893 and is consistently rated one of the best colleges in the West. They offer outstanding and affordable educations for successful job placement. Their points of distinction include, thirteen faculty members have received Fulbright Scholarships, The Talking Saints Forensics team is ranked in the top five of all universities and colleges in the United States and last, but not least, they are the 5-time NAIA National Football Champions (2002-2005 & 2007).