Helena

Perched at the foot of the Rockies, Helena is much more than just a stopover town along the way to Glacier National Park or Canada. It is the capital of the state of Montana and a vibrant modern city with a 150-year history. Helena is no longer the "Last Chance Gulch" of the prospectors of yore.

According to popular history, Helena was the last chance for miners to find gold before resigning themselves to returning home, empty handed. You may not find gold here, but you are sure to appreciate a few pleasant hours spent strolling through the charming downtown area.

CATHEDRAL OF ST. HELENA

Built in the early 20th century, this elegant neo-Gothic cathedral is worth a visit just to admire the fifty-nine gorgeous Bavarian stained-glass windows. Guided tours are available Tuesdays-Thursdays from Memorial Day (last Monday in May) to Labour Day (first Monday in September), at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Several masses are held during the week (Monday-Friday at 7 a.m., Tuesday-Thursday at noon, Saturday at 5 p.m. and Sunday at 7:30 a.m., 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.), but the Cathedral is always open for people of all faiths and backgrounds to visit.

GATES OF THE MOUNTAINS

Halfway between Yellowstone and Glacier National Park sits the "Gates of the Mountains", so named because of the remarkable sheer limestone cliffs bordering the river. In summer, you can take a 2-hour narrated river cruise and learn all about one of the legendary places discovered by Lewis and Clark during the first American expedition to cross the western United States to the Pacific coast in 1804.

Discover the Heart of Montana with this tour on the Missouri River. There are several cruises every day from late May to early September, and most days in September (see website for schedules).

MONTANA STATE CAPITOL

The most notable feature of the Capitol building is the massive rotunda, with four circular paintings surrounding it. These paintings depict four important archetypes of people of Montana's early Far West history: a Native American, an explorer and fur trapper, a gold miner, and a cowboy. The most significant piece of art in the Capitol is that of the famous explorers, Lewis and Clark, by Montana artist Charles M. Russell.

Open Monday-Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hour-long guided tours are also possible through the Montana Historical Society.