Great Falls in Cascade County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)

Murphy Maclay Hardware Store

Great Falls Central Business Historic District

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 19, 2019

1. Murphy Maclay Hardware Store Marker

Inscription. In the 1880s Murphy, Maclay and Co. sold everything from flour and fine teas to window glass and blasting powder. Edgar Maclay and John Murphy established the firm with stores in Helena and Fort Benton in 1882. Two years later they sent Worden Wren here to open a branch in a canvas tent; Great Falls was only a few months old. They constructed this stone and brick building in 1886. They expanded the building in 1888, remodeled again before 1900, and again sometime before 1929. Later remodels reflect Murphy Maclay’s continued prosperity but disguised the building’s historic character. A look at the west wall, however, reveals the original rubble stone construction. Locally available rubble stone supplied fire-resistant and sturdy building components before the railroad arrived in 1887, expanding the choice of construction material. By 1891 the one-story stone building housed both the Great Falls National Bank and the Murphy Maclay hardware and grocery store. One of the longest operating businesses in Great Falls, the firm sold hardware from this building from 1886 into the 1960s.

Erected by The Montana National Register

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Sign Program.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Montana National Register Sign Program series list.

Location. 47° 30.301′ N, 111° 18.244′ W. Marker is in Great Falls, Montana, in Cascade County. It is on Central Avenue near 2nd Street South, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 200 Central Avenue, Great Falls MT 59401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in andspecifically entral Montana in Russell Country. It is also in the American Mountain West

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Liberty Theatre (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Arvon Block (about

Murphy Maclay Hardware Store and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 19, 2019

2. Murphy Maclay Hardware Store and Marker

The marker is on the 2nd Street side of the building.

400 feet away); New Park Hotel (about 400 feet away); Great Falls Civic Center (about 600 feet away); "Nibbles" (about 700 feet away); Bus Depot and Garage (approx. 0.2 miles away); S.H. Kress and Company (approx. 0.2 miles away); Great Falls Central Business Historic District (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Great Falls.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 19, 2019

3. Murphy Maclay Hardware Store Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on December 19, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 22, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 649 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 22, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.