HELENA HISTORY TOURS
We are proud to deliver high-quality history tours in the Helena area
JOIN US FOR A TOUR IN 2024
We are currently developing our 2024 tour season. Regular tours run from June to October with private offerings available upon request. All proceeds from our tours go back into history projects across Montana. Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on social media for updates on upcoming tours and other events!
Our Services Include:
Downtown Walking Tours through the Summer
Guided History Rides on the Bert & Ernie’s Pub Trolley
Step-on Guide Services
Private Guided Outings
Engaging Talks at Retirement Homes
2023 Helena History Tours Ad
Scroll below to learn more about our past offerings!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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Our tours fill up quickly. We highly recommend reserving your spot in advance.
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We ask that you arrive 10-15 minutes prior to the start time whether or not you have reservations. This allows our guides to check in all guests and begin on time. If an attendant arrives late, the guide will not be expected to restart or return to previous stops.
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After booking your ticket, please check your email for a message from The Foundation for Montana History. This message will share the time, location, and any other relevant information about your desired tour. Be sure to check your spam/junk folder.
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We recommend bringing water as most tours last more than an hour. Please dress appropriately for the weather and remember sunglasses and sunscreen for sunny days and extra warm layers for winter tours.
2023 TOUR OFFERINGS
ADVENTURE ON THE AMBROSE TRAIL
APPROX. 75 MIN | 1 MILE WALKING TOUR | DIFFICULTY: MILD
Go back in time on this family friendly stroll along Mount Helena’s ADA trail! On the way, explore the town’s early settlement, learn about wildlife, and uncover stories of history making flights that will inspire you to reach for the sky! A game of trail bingo will bring these history nuggets to life.
Recommended for people of all ages and abilities.
There are no regular offerings for this tour currently. Follow our newsletter for tour updates!
BREWERIES & BROTHELS
APPROX. 90 MIN | 1.5 MILES WALKING TOUR | DIFFICULTY: MODERATE (SOME INCLINE)
Explore the colorful history of Helena’s prominent brewery scene and historic red-light district during this downtown walking tour beginning at legendary Reeder’s Alley. Stories of entrepreneurial Brewmeisters and madams divulge the rise and fall of Helena’s underworld that will excite, surprise, and inform a forgotten history of the capital.
Recommended for ages 12+
There are no regular offerings for this tour currently. Follow our newsletter for tour updates!
MINERS TO MILLIONAIRES
APPROX. 90 MIN | 1.5 MILES WALKING TOUR | DIFFICULTY: MILD
Every step tells a story on this tour of Helena’s historic Last Chance Gulch. Discover the vibrant history of a rowdy mining camp turned capital city told through the complex legacies of downtown Helena’s spectacular buildings. From wooden cabins to brick jewels, you will hear stories of crime, corruption, and community spirit that transformed Helena into the Queen City of today.
Recommended for ages 10+
There are no regular offerings for this tour currently. Follow our newsletter for tour updates!
PEDALING THROUGH THE PAST
APPROX. 90 MIN | GUIDED PUB TROLLEY RIDE | DIFFICULTY: MILD
Want to cover more ground, enjoy a luxury ride, get a little exercise, and still have a guided history experience? Join us for our Pedaling through the Past Tour! This fun experience features the Helena Cathedral, Mansion District, and Reeder’s Alley with photo ops along the way. Drinks welcome, fun mandatory!
Recommended for ages 10+
There are no regular offerings for this tour currently. Follow our newsletter for tour updates!
GHOST GULCH
APPROX. 120 MIN | GUIDED PUB TROLLEY RIDE | DIFFICULTY: MILD
Take a ride through Helena’s dark past in the fall season. Not for the faint of heart, Ghost Gulch is a haunted tour on the Bert & Ernies Pub Trolley that leads visitors from the Myrna Loy Theater, around Last Chance Gulch, and back. Terrifying topics include vigilante justice, loyal pets, criminal crusades, haunted elevators, and a variety of other tales in Montana’s original ghost town. Inspired by the unmatched work of Ellen Baumler, Ghost Gulch is the can’t miss event of the fall!
Recommended for ages 18+
This tour runs exclusively in the fall. Follow our newsletter for tour updates!
CHECK OUT OUR 2023 TOUR SPONSORS
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KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
We look forward to hosting you on a walking tour soon. Our Know Before You Go page should answer most questions about the experience.
Send us an email at zachary@mthistory.org with any questions.