The Montana Club is the oldest, private social club in the Northwest. Located in the heart of historic downtown Helena, members enjoy fine dining, elegant ambiance, special events and use of the Club for private dining and meetings, parties and weddings. The Montana Club was organized as a private mens’ organization in 1885. In those days, because of gold mining in the vicinity, it was said that Helena had more millionaires per capita than any other U.S. city. In 1891, a subscription drive was launched to construct a club building and a triangular lot was purchased in the center of the business district. By 1903, a six story building of gothic architecture was in use by club members. Unfortunately, the Club burned to the ground in April, 1903, leaving only the foundation and the stone arches on the first floor. Insurance covered only half of the loss, but members immediately launched a subscription drive to rebuild. Within two weeks after the fire, Cass Gilbert, a renowned St. Paul and New York architect with ties to Helena agreed to draw plans for the new building. Six weeks later preliminary plans had been prepared and construction began in March, 1904. The new building (cost, $125,000) was ready for use in June, 1905. There were “boarders” rooms during that era on the 5th floor in which out of town or Helena members resided. The sixth floor ballroom features twenty five stained glass windows designed to represent “the progress of civilization in Montana” of Indians and early settlers, miners, ranchers, farmers, timbermen and railroad expansion.
