Deer Lodge in Powell County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)

Thompson Photo Shop

This Property Contributes to Deer Lodge Central Business Historic District

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 7, 2022

1. Thompson Photo Shop Marker

Inscription. Hiding behind its brick façade is one of the oldest standing buildings in the business district. Before the Northern Pacific arrived in 1883, Deer Lodge builders relied on locally available materials. They constructed walls from wood or rubble stone and roofs from sapling poles and sod or dirt. The owner of this early single-story building modernized it once the railroad made commercially manufactured materials widely available. By 1884, he had covered the dirt roof with shingles and the original stone walls and roof gable with a brick false front (still visible from the alley). More often constructed of wood than of brick, false fronts added style to essentially utilitarian structures. By 1889, the Deer Lodge Drug Company occupied the building, selling “pure drugs, paints, oils, medicines, blank books, school books, cutlery, etc.” Later owners expanded with rear additions and, sometime before the mid-1940s, once again updated the façade, installing new display windows. The building housed the post office in 1908, a grocery store between 1912 and 1929, and, after 1944, the Thompson Photo Shop.

Erected by Montana Historical

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

Society.

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

Location. 46° 23.937′ N, 112° 44.114′ W. Marker is in Deer Lodge, Montana, in Powell County. It is on Main Street (Business Interstate 90) near Missouri Avenue, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 300 Main Street, Deer Lodge MT 59722, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in andspecifically outhwest Montana, in Gold West Country, in Mining 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: Larabie Brothers Bank (a few steps from this

Thompson Photo Shop and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 7, 2022

2. Thompson Photo Shop and Marker

The marker is on the low building on the right.

marker); U.S. Post Office (within shouting distance of this marker); Mitchell Block (within shouting distance of this marker); Rialto Theatre (within shouting distance of this marker); Deer Lodge Central Business Historic District (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); National Bank Building (about 300 feet away); Masonic Lodge (about 400 feet away); 304 Cottonwood (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Deer Lodge.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 6, 2022. It was originally submitted on November 6, 2022, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 187 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 6, 2022, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.