Helena in Lewis and Clark County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)

Sands Brothers Dry Goods

Helena Historic District

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 14, 2021

1. Sands Brothers Dry Goods Marker

Inscription. Originally this was a one-story stone building erected in 1874 to accommodate the business of Morris and Julius Sands. The brothers added a second story and remodeled the façade in 1889, finishing it with alternating rows of buff sandstone and blue limestone in the popular Romanesque style. Arcaded, arched windows supported by Roman columns and granite piers highlight the second story. Note the carved lions’ faces in the arch spandrels. At the rear of the building, the original first-floor stonework is evident with the later 1889 brickwork visible above.

Erected by Montana Historical Society.

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. 46° 35.178′ N, 112° 2.412′ W. Marker is in Helena, Montana, in Lewis and Clark County. It is on South Last Chance Gulch near East Broadway Street when traveling north. This portion of Last Chance Gulch is a pedestrian mall and is closed to vehicular traffic. Touch for map.

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Marker is at or near this postal address: 38 South Last Chance Gulch, Helena MT 59601, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in andspecifically entral Montana in Gold West 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: Raleigh and Clarke Dry Goods (here, next to this marker); Dunphy Block (here, next to this marker); St. Louis Block (a few steps from this marker); Boston Block (a few steps from this marker); Original Helena Streetcar (within shouting distance of this marker); Montana's Capital (within shouting distance of this marker); Earthquakes of 1935 (within shouting distance of this marker); California Wine House (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Helena.

Sands Brothers Dry Goods Building and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 14, 2021

2. Sands Brothers Dry Goods Building and Marker

Marker to the left of the entrance.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 4, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 24, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 454 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 24, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.