original governor's mansion

ClintPage

What an amazing experience! This home is gorgeous. It is a a great way to spend an hour in the charming town of Helena. It's Montana's capital and a great city to visit. This was one of the highlights of our trip. The home is beautiful, and the interior has been lovingly recreated. The home dates from before the turn of the century and it's filled with interesting items that would have been used then. The docent named Bobbi Harris was amazing! She was so knowledgeable and clearly loves the house, it's history, and her job! The tour was fantastic. It was built in 1888, and it's a Queen Anne Victorian. It's a great trip, and close to lots of other attractions. Between 1913 and 1959 it was home to nine Montana governors.Highly recommended!

AllanJGJ

What could have been just another big victorian house tour was made really memorable by our tour guide, Bobbie. It's always nice to get a knowledgeable, enthusiastic local guide and the lady that took us around was charming, full of interesting information, and genuinely entertaining. And for non-Montanas her focus on daily life and the physical objects in the house made for a much more interesting time than any focus on Montanan politics. Helena's not a tourist mecca but this is one thing worth doing if you find yourself there for any reason. Top marks to our guide!

christy17557

Really interesting and fact filled tour of the old Governor's mansion. You see how life was lived over 100 years ago. Elegance and lovely manners were the norm in this house.

FC2YQ

This place was fascinating with lots of historical details. Our tour guide gave us as much information as he could with just an hour tour. Our group asked a lot of questions, so we had to rush through the top floor. The dining room windows were one of my favorite things about the Mansion - unique, colorful and beautiful. We really enjoyed our visit.

Professional-Pilgrim

We interrupted our tour of the Historical Society Museum to come for the 3:00 pm (the last one of the day) guided tour. A family of four wandered in, but left as soon as they heard that the visit was not free! Big mistake, as the tour was fascinating, and the charge was only a few dollars. Our guide was delightful, and knew the building inside-out. Lots to see, and the stories of the various families who had occupied the building were entertaining.

SheriMontana

Actually, a LOT of Montana history! Very knowledgeable docents take you on a guided tour of the mansion. Lovely museum to early Montana history. Make it a must-see, along with the Montana State Capitol

Q6424KLandreaf

I'd put the OGM on the Top 5 list of things to visit when you are in Helena Montana. Well preserved, very historical, not expensive, and a real part of Montana history. Check it out!!

Grock60750

Beautifully restored to the era when it was last inhabited in a quiet neighborhood. The docent was extremely knowledgeable and provided informative commentary.

Bunnymon

Beautifully restored mansion. Tour was interesting but a little too long on a hot day. Could use some more ventilation.

ShelleyG33

This tour is why we went to Helena, since my husband's great-uncle was the governor from 1941-1949. QA lot of care has been taken to restore the mansion to what it was like when the 1st governor's family moved in. The tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and shared lots of fun tidbits and stories. We had a great time.

travel_is_fun1000

Located in a charming, treed vintage neighborhood, the original governor's mansion is a relaxing tour. In the summer, tours are on the hour from 12-3. If you arrive early, you can wait/rest- my husband fell asleep! - on comfy chairs on the large, covered front porch. The tour highlights the mansion that was a home to former governors and their families. Our interesting tour was given by a knowledgeable guide who clearly enjoys sharing the history of the home and of the people who lived there. The house and decor are understated, and we liked it because it was so comfortable and livable.

KarenG656

This is a great tour. It lasts an hour and you get to view all the rooms of the house. We had a good guide, very knowledgable. Try to go on the first tour when it opens.

helenros

Enjoy a tour of this amazing historical mansion. the third floor ballroom is reputed to be haunted, but if you say hello to the ghosts they will not hassle you.

PAGeo

Make sure of the openning times. The tour is conducted by a very knowledgable docent who presents the house in a personable way.

794GaryS

If you like touring older mansion, this is a dont miss. The mansion was built during a time that many mansions were being built and this mansion was on par with the rest. It has been lovingly restored with some of the same furniture that was originally in the mansion. The tour guides are great and have a great grasp of the first families of Montana. A must see for any visit to Helena.