Cathedral of St. Helena, Montana

Where Gumbo was #519

Gumbo was visiting the beautiful Cathedral of St. Helena, located in the middle of Montana’s capital city of Helena.  Congratulations to George G, the only one who recognized where Gumbo was!

The Cathedral of Saint Helena is modeled after the Votivkirche (Church of the Sacred Heart) in Vienna, Austria, and is built in the Gothic style.  Construction on it began in 1908 and the first mass was held in 1914.  Construction continued for 10 more years, and the cathedral was consecrated in 1924 -- a remarkably quick completion for such a grand project.  Construction costs totaled $645,000 (which translates to more than $11 million in today's dollars).

The cathedral sustained significant damage during a series of earthquakes in 1935, which reached a magnitude of 6.2. The cathedral had to go under extensive repairs and renovations to restore it.

The church has become a Montana landmark and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.  The cathedral was renovated in 1982-1983 and again in 2002.

There are many interesting features to the cathedral:

1)  Its 230-foot twin spires, which are topped with gold-leafed crosses standing 12 feet in height and 6 feet in width.  The cathedral’s north tower has fifteen hand-cast bells.

The limestone exterior of the cathedral features 29 statues of saints and other important figures.

2)  59 brilliant stained-glass windows, depicting scenes from both the Old and New Testaments.  These stained-glass windows were made and installed by a firm from Munich, Germany.

3)  Beautifully detailed interior finishings, including Carrara marble statues, white marble altars, gold leaf decorations, and carved oak highlights.

4) The lighting fixtures are made of hand-forged bronze, with a lacquer finish.

Guided tours are available on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays from 1-3pm from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Throughout the year, a guided tour may be scheduled for groups of 10 or more. Self-guided tours can be done during times when the Cathedral is open (which is how we explored it).

The Cathedral of St. Helena was one of the most attractive churches I've visited in the Americas.  A very recommended destination.