Montana’s historic mansions reflect the state’s transformation during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as wealth from mining, ranching, and timber reshaped the frontier. The Moss Mansion in Billings, designed by Henry Janeway Hardenbergh in 1903, stands as a Renaissance Revival landmark with balanced symmetry and rich detail. In Hamilton, the Daly Mansion’s Colonial Revival style, expanded from a modest farmhouse in 1910, spoke to the power of Marcus Daly’s copper empire and the growing importance of integrating regional resources with national design trends. The Conrad Mansion in Kalispell combines Norman architecture with locally sourced materials, emphasizing practicality alongside European influences. Butte’s Copper King Mansion, with its mix of Italianate and French chateau styles, highlights the Gilded Age extravagance tied to Montana’s mining boom. Meanwhile, Helena’s Original Governor’s Mansion, a Queen Anne structure from 1888, signifies Montana’s political maturation. Together, these homes tell a story of ambition, craftsmanship, and the shaping of a new cultural identity in the American West.
15. Moss Mansion – Billings
The Moss Mansion in Billings, designed by Henry Janeway Hardenbergh in 1903, is a Renaissance Revival gem that marked Montana’s transition into an era of prosperity. Built for entrepreneur Preston Boyd Moss at a then-staggering $105,000, its red sandstone exterior features classical symmetry and elegance. Inside, intricate stained glass, hand-painted ceilings, and detailed woodwork reflect a blend of European influence and local craftsmanship. Beyond its architectural significance, the mansion serves as a cultural milestone, symbolizing Billings’ emergence as a commercial and cultural hub during the early 20th century.
14. Daly Mansion – Hamilton
A baron’s country retreat dressed in Colonial Revival elegance, this estate sprawls across 50 acres, proving Marcus Daly was no minimalist. He reimagined his original farmhouse into a 24,000-square-foot stunner in 1910, boasting 25 bedrooms, a library, and a solarium. The copper king’s fortune gilded every corner while the Bitterroot Mountains provided the backdrop. The estate’s scale and style underscore Daly’s role in shaping the region, representing a pivotal period when Montana was asserting itself culturally and economically on a national stage.
13. Conrad Mansion – Kalispell
The Conrad Mansion in Kalispell, completed in 1895, is a Norman-style home designed by Kirtland Cutter for frontier entrepreneur Charles E. Conrad. Built from local stone and timber, the mansion blends European architectural influences with materials reflective of Montana’s rugged landscape. Its steep gables, arched windows, and wraparound veranda highlight the craftsmanship of the era. Inside, intricate woodwork and period furnishings reveal a focus on elegance and functionality.
12. Lee M. Ford House – Great Falls
The Lee M. Ford House in Great Falls, built in 1908, is a striking example of Georgian Revival architecture in Montana. Constructed for Lee M. Ford, a prominent figure in the state’s banking and ranching industries, the home’s balanced proportions and classical details display understated elegance. Brick masonry, symmetrical windows, and a columned portico emphasize the architectural refinement typical of the style. Inside, spacious rooms feature fine woodwork and period detailing.
11. Olsen House – Helena
The Olsen House in Helena, Montana, showcases a layered history of architectural evolution and community significance. Built in the 1870s, the original structure was a modest Gothic Revival cottage, reflecting the practicality of early frontier life. Over the decades, it transformed into a more substantial and refined residence. By the mid-1880s, a two-story rectangular addition and a gable were added, enhancing the home’s stature and presence. In the early 1900s, the original wooden structure was replaced with a bluestone facade, creating a durable and elegant exterior that remains a defining feature.
10. Albert May House – Stevensville
The Albert May House in Stevensville, Montana, built around 1898, is a transitional Queen Anne-style residence with elements of Classical Revival. Originally home to Albert May, the town’s first mayor, key features include a wraparound porch adorned with decorative brackets, turned posts, and square balusters, along with intricate scrollwork in the gable ends and stained-glass windows that emphasize Victorian craftsmanship. A clipped bay with scrolled brackets and finials adds to the home’s asymmetrical charm, while clapboard siding and classical window treatments suggest a Classical Revival influence.
9. Byron R. Sherman House – White Sulphur Springs
The Byron R. Sherman House, known locally as The Castle, is a Romanesque-style granite mansion overlooking White Sulphur Springs, Montana. Built in the late 19th century and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977, it is a significant example of frontier-era architecture. Constructed with rusticated granite and local fieldstone, the two-story house sits on an elevated basement, emphasizing its prominent hilltop location. The structure includes two full-height towers on the southern side, characteristic of Romanesque design. Its heavy stone construction and simple, square layout reflect a practical yet imposing approach to architecture, blending durability with aesthetic ambition. Now operated by the Meagher County Historical Society as The Castle Museum, the property includes period furniture, photographs, and regional artifacts.
8. Krug House – Glendive
The Krug House in Glendive, Montana was designed by St. Louis architect Herbert C. Chivers. Built for rancher Henry Krug in 1906, the two-story brick home sits on a raised sandstone foundation, with large windows providing light to the full basement. Its defining feature is the classical front entrance, which includes a wide porch, square columns, and a triangular pediment adorned with medallions, dentils, and detailed alabaster cornices. The house features symmetrical double-hung wood windows, brick quoins at the corners, and a hipped slate roof with dormers, chimneys, and galvanized-iron finials. Inside, 11-foot ceilings, quarter-sawn oak woodwork, and porcelain tile fireplaces enhance the spacious interior, organized around a central hall. The basement includes functional spaces like a wine cellar and playroom.
7. Christmas Gift Evans House – Helena
The Christmas Gift Evans House, built in 1877 in Helena, Montana, is a blend of Queen Anne and Second Empire architectural styles. Constructed by John B. Sanford and later purchased by his business partner Christmas Gift Evans, the house is named for Evans’ unique birthdate, December 25, 1840. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. The home’s most notable feature is its bell-cast mansard roof, a hallmark of the Second Empire style, which adds a sense of verticality and elegance. Decorative bracketing, ornamental iron cresting, and intricate woodwork further enhance its design.
6. M.E. Doe House – Philipsburg
The M.E. Doe House in Philipsburg, Montana, built in 1902, is an example of late Victorian architecture with unique stylistic touches. This two-story wood-frame residence was designed for Marshall E. Doe, a prominent local businessman who operated a drugstore. The house’s standout features include a conical turret on the northeast corner and a wraparound porch spanning three sides. The porch showcases intricate woodwork, including lattice details and a Japanese-style balustrade, adding a touch of global influence to its design. Large double-hung windows enhance the home’s symmetry and flood the interior with light, while the overall structure blends functionality with ornate craftsmanship.
5. A.J. Dean House – Helena
The A.J. Dean House in Helena, Montana, built in 1928, draws on Tudor Revival architecture with an intriguing origin story. Alonzo J. Dean, a former J.C. Penney manager, purchased part of the Conrad estate’s carriage house and reimagined it as a residence with the help of architect Fred Brinkman. This creative adaptation highlights the resourceful design approaches of the era. The home features classic Tudor elements, including half-timbering, stucco accents, and a prominent tower originally used as a watchman’s perch on the Conrad estate. Its curved rooflines and quaint entrance give the house a cottage-like quality, while the meandering walkway and lush landscaping create a storybook setting. Dean’s conversion of a former utilitarian structure into a refined home demonstrates a thoughtful blend of practicality and architectural flair. The house remains a reminder of the value placed on preserving materials and adapting them into new forms during a transitional period in Montana’s architectural history.
4. Young-Almas House – Havre
The Young-Almas House in Havre, Montana, introduces elements of Spanish Revival architecture in a residence designed in 1914 by local architect Frank Bossuot. Inspired by photographs owner Charles Young took of a plantation house in Cuba, the residence brings in tropical influences. Constructed with stucco walls, terra cotta roofing, and masonry by contractor Chris Fuglevand, the house stands out for its stylistic distinctiveness. The building’s low-pitched roof, arched details, and clean stucco exterior reflect hallmarks of Spanish Revival design.
3. Kohrs Ranch House – Deer Lodge
The Kohrs Ranch House in Deer Lodge, Montana, is a centerpiece of the Grant-Kohrs National Historic Site, showcasing the legacy of Montana’s cattle ranching industry. Constructed in the mid-19th century by John Grant and Conrad Kohrs, the house reflects a blend of utilitarian ranch practicality and Victorian refinement, shaped in large part by Augusta Kohrs, wife of the “Cattle King.” The house draws from urban Victorian residential styles uncommon on the frontier. Encircling the residence is a manicured yard defined by white picket fencing, irrigated turf, and formal gardens. This carefully maintained yard creates a buffer between the private residence and the rugged ranch operations beyond. The house and its surroundings served as both a family home and the administrative heart of the ranch. As one of the last great cattle ranching sites from the open range era, the Kohrs Ranch House remains a vivid reminder of the industry’s impact on the West.
2. Copper King Mansion – Butte
The Copper King Mansion in Butte, Montana, constructed between 1884 and 1888, is a significant example of Romanesque Revival Victorian architecture. Built as the residence of William Andrews Clark, one of Montana’s influential “Copper Kings,” the 34-room house reflects the wealth and prominence of Butte during its mining boom. The mansion features frescoed ceilings, intricate parquet flooring made from imported woods, and stained-glass windows that enhance its design. Ornate, hand-carved fireplaces and stairways showcase craftsmanship typical of the era. The combination of gas and electric chandeliers highlights the technological advancements of the late 19th century, making the house both modern and elegant for its time. Added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970, the building has been privately owned by the Cote family since 1953 and now operates as a bed and breakfast.
1. Original Governor’s Mansion – Helena
The Original Governor’s Mansion in Helena, Montana, built in 1888, is a notable example of Queen Anne architecture and reflects the city’s growth during its early years as the state capital. Designed by Hodgson, Stem, & Welter of St. Paul, Minnesota, the three-story mansion was originally constructed for William Chessman, a prominent local businessman. In 1913, the state of Montana purchased the house to serve as the official residence for the governor, a role it held until 1959. Constructed of pressed brick, terra cotta, and stone, the mansion features the asymmetrical facades and ornate detailing characteristic of Queen Anne design. Its interior includes 20 rooms and seven fireplaces, highlighting both craftsmanship and the scale of late 19th-century residential architecture. A two-story brick carriage house complements the main residence, completing the estate’s functional layout. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970, the mansion remains a symbol of Montana’s early statehood and the architectural ambition of Helena during its boom years. It now serves as a historic site, offering insight into the lives of the nine governors and their families who once called it home.
