AREA HISTORY

As legend has it, having spent months looking for gold, four men made camp along a stream in the southwestern corner of the Helena Valley. A little “color” was found but not enough to stay. After trying other areas, the desperate group returned for one “last chance.” On July 14, 1864, the men found placer gold in the stream they named Last Chance Gulch. By the end of 1860s, over $18 million in gold had been discovered in Helena from Last Change Gulch and other discoveries.

Many small communities sprang up throughout the Helena Valley, including Silver City and Marysville, as miners continued establishing mining strikes. After a contentious duel between Montana Copper Kings, Helena became Montana’s state capital in 1894. The Helena Valley developed into a vital agriculture and commerce hub for Montana, which continues to this day.