Original governor’s mansion in Helena to reopen to tours

Following the completion of exterior restoration work, the original governor’s mansion has been reopened to the public, the Montana Historical Society said in a press release.

Built in 1888, the 21-room mansion will be open, with registration, for tours at 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., every Saturday. The state bought the property in 1913 and it served as the home for nine Montana Governors and their families. The building was closed in 2025 for repairs.

Workers repaired and repainted the upper balustrade, main level deck, and front porch, the press release said.

“The restoration gave the mansion’s exterior the care it deserved, and now visitors can see the results firsthand,” Darby Bramble, museum education officer with the Montana Historical Society said in a press release. “Our tours bring the Victorian era to life through artifacts and stories from the families who lived here, and now we have the added dimension of talking about what it takes to preserve a historic home like this one.”

The Montana Historical Society is also hosting two upcoming special events at the mansion. From 5 p.m., to 7 p.m., on Oct. 31, the museum will have Halloween-themed tours. And on Nov. 27, the original governor’s mansion will host a holiday-themed event.

Registration is required for both of those events, the release stated.