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

Colorado Building

Helena Historic District

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 15, 2021

1. Colorado Building Marker

Inscription. The Colorado Building is a rich illustration of Helena’s commercial blossoming during the early twentieth century. The Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph Company built the structure in 1922, thereby completing this block in the town’s more sparsely developed northern end. The upper two floors once served as company offices, accessed by a central doorway. The ground floor, tucked into the hillside, originally housed the Wright Furniture Company and Kenneth R. Rorabeck Drugs.

Erected by Montana Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Communications • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Montana National Register Sign Program series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1922.

Location. 46° 35.492′ N, 112° 2.22′ W. Marker is in Helena, Montana, in Lewis and Clark County. It is at the intersection of North Last Chance Gulch and East Placer Avenue, on the right when traveling north on North Last Chance Gulch. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 435 North Last Chance Gulch, Helena MT

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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: Helena, Main Street - 1905 (here, next to this marker); Iron Front Hotel (within shouting distance of this marker); C.W. Cannon Building (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Fashion Livery and Boarding Stable (about 500 feet away); Eybel's Cafe (about 700 feet away); Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Montana (about 800 feet away); YWCA (approx. 0.2 miles away); Federal Reserve Bank (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Helena.

Colorado Building and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 15, 2021

2. Colorado Building and Marker

The marker is to the right of the entrance.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 10, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 1, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 289 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 1, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.