Missoula in Missoula County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)

Keim Building

Northside Missoula Railroad Historic District

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 21, 2019

1. Keim Building Marker

Inscription. Arrival of the Northern Pacific in 1883 brought sweeping changes, and this elaborate 1891 business block is a grand illustration. The railroad prompted major building booms and made architectural pieces and parts readily accessible. Levi Keim, an early-day farmer and stage stop operator, worked as a Northside policeman when he built this commercial building as an investment. Originally a drug store was at street level and apartments were upstairs. Its varied tenants included the Northwest Steam Laundry in 1909 and A. W. Allen’s grocery in 1913. Keim spared no expense on the project. Romanesque arches with granite sills, a unique central gable above the roof, elegant brickwork, and a pressed metal cornice make the building a stellar example of Victorian-era commercial architecture. The mail-order cornice and plate glass windows arrived via the Northern Pacific. The availability of large commercial windows like these revolutionized advertising, offering merchants better opportunities to display their goods. Economic depression in 1893 ended construction projects and the period of flamboyant commercial architecture passed.

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The beautifully restored Keim Building is one of Missoula’s few surviving examples.

Erected by Montana National Register Sign Program.

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

Location. 46° 52.66′ N, 113° 59.657′ W. Marker is in Missoula, Montana, in Missoula County. It is on North 1st Street West near Woody Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 314 North 1st Street West, Missoula MT 59802, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Western Montana

and in Glacier 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

Photographed by Mark Kersting

2. Skylight

least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Lindsay Commission Company Warehouse (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); 426 North First Street West (about 400 feet away); Northside Missoula Railroad Historic District (about 600 feet away); John S. Johnston House (about 800 feet away); Taxidermist Shop and Warwick Apartments (approx. 0.2 miles away); Northern Pacific Railroad Depot (approx. 0.2 miles away); Mrs. Lydia McCaffery's Furnished Rooms (approx. 0.2 miles away); McIntosh House (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Missoula.

Second floor formal dining rm image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Kersting, September 14, 2016

3. Second floor formal dining rm

Photographed by Mark Kersting

4. First floor

Keim Building and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 21, 2019

5. Keim Building and Marker

Photographed by Mark Kersting, circa 2019

6. Keim Building Marker

Second Floor main hallway of the Keim Building. All the original materials including wainscotting trim/casements baseboard and floors were painstakingly stripped of layers of paint and refinished to their near-original tones.

Keim Building Detail Metal Gable image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Kersting, circa 2008

7. Keim Building Detail Metal Gable

Current second floor pic image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Kersting, circa November 10, 2024

8. Current second floor pic

Photographed by Mark Kersting, November 10, 2024

9. Keim Building Marker

Most current photo

Photographed by Mark Kersting

10. Keim Building Marker

Second Floor Entry

Credits. This page was last revised on January 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 15, 2020, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 841 times since then and 47 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on January 15, 2020, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 21, 2022, by Mark Kersting of Missoula, Montana. 5. submitted on January 15, 2020, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 6, 7. submitted on July 7, 2020, by Mark Kersting of Missoula, Montana. 8, 9, 10. submitted on December 21, 2024, by Mark Kersting of Missoula, Montana.