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

Unionville

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 16, 2021

1. Unionville Marker

Inscription. Helena owes its existence to gold-bearing quartz lodes in the hills south of town. The gold washed out of the hills into Last Chance Gulch where the "Four Georgians" discovered it in 1864. The fabulously rich strike drew hundreds of men and women to this area, including James Whitlatch, the discoverer of Helena's "mother lode". His Whitlatch-Union Mine spawned Unionville. The camp included stores, saloons, a Chinese laundry, boarding houses, and school as well as an extensive complex of stamp mills and warehouses. The largest producer of gold bullion in the United States by the early 1870's, the Unionville district was well on its way to prominence when several events reversed its fortunes. In 1897, the gold-bearing lode in the Whitlatch-Union Mine disappeared under a fault. Efforts to relocate it failed and the company abandoned the mine. Other mines in the district survived for a time before they also closed down. By the early 20th century, fewer than one hundred people remained in the area. Unionville's proximity to Helena has saved it from obscurity. Today, it thrives as a bedroom community with its mining heritage

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still everywhere evident.

Erected by Montand Department of Transportation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 46° 32.475′ N, 112° 5.329′ W. Marker is in Helena, Montana, in Lewis and Clark County. It is on Oro Fino Gulch Drive near Black Alder Gulch, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2058 Oro Fino Gulch Drive, 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 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Grizzly Gulch Lime Kilns (approx. 3 miles away); Henry Hay Homestead (approx. 3.1 miles away); Helena West Main Street Historic District

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 16, 2021

2. Unionville Marker

(approx. 3.2 miles away); Lawrence and Amanda Beaver Residence (approx. 3.3 miles away); Kluge House (approx. 3.4 miles away); 488-490 West Main Street (approx. 3.4 miles away); Elisha and Joseph Poad House (approx. 3.4 miles away); Samuel Dempster House (approx. 3½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Helena.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 22, 2021. It was originally submitted on December 22, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 592 times since then and 63 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 22, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.