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

Dunphy Block

Helena Historic District

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 14, 2021

1. Dunphy Block Marker

Inscription. Reputedly the first two-story building on Main Street and one of Helena’s few remaining structures dating to the 1860s, this stone building originally housed offices and furnished lodgings. Miner and prominent merchant E. M. Dunphy purchased the Victorian-period style structure in 1868, establishing the Helena Bowling Gymnasium in the basement. Irish miner-turned-millionaire Thomas Cruse bought the building in 1887 to house his newly founded bank. J. W. Switzer’s wholesale liquor and wine dealership was located here during the 1800s. The façade reflects the building’s 1890s remodeling.

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° 35.176′ N, 112° 2.413′ W. Marker is in Helena, Montana, in Lewis and Clark County. It is on South Last Chance Gulch near East Broadway Street, on the left when traveling north. This portion of Last Chance Gulch is a pedestrian mall

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and is closed to vehicular traffic. Touch for map. 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: Sands Brothers Dry Goods (here, next to this marker); Raleigh and Clarke Dry Goods (here, next to this marker); Boston Block (a few steps from this marker); St. Louis Block (a few steps from this marker); Earthquakes of 1935 (within shouting distance of this marker); Original Helena Streetcar (within shouting distance of this marker); California Wine House (within shouting distance of this marker); Montana's Capital (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map

Dunphy Block and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 14, 2021

2. Dunphy Block and Marker

The marker is on the far right of the building.

of all markers in Helena.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 10, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 24, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 314 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 24, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.