Old Fire Tower (Guardian of the Gulch) — Roadside & Outdoor Oddities in Helena

Entry No. 22 — the Helena file — filed under: outdoor-weird

Old Fire Tower (Guardian of the Gulch)

This skeletal wooden watchtower has loomed over downtown Helena since 1874, raised to spot fires racing through the tinderbox mining camp below. A guardroom and warning bell were added in 1886, and for decades the bell rang the evening curfew for local kids. It is the last of the many fire towers that once ringed Helena and one of only five of its kind still standing in the United States; an arson fire gutted it in 2016, and a multi-year restoration wrapped in 2025.

The move: Hike up to the tower at dusk when the new string lights glow and watch the gulch go dark below you.

Where: Tower Street, Helena, MT (atop the hill above Last Chance Gulch)

Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.

#outdoor-weird #historic-landmark #hilltop #downtown #one-of-five-in-us

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Proof: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4

last checked: 2026-06-24