Jan
16
Montana Places to Visit: Missoula Historical Preservation Walking Tours
January 16, 2015 | Leave a Comment
Being the home to a number of historical places, Missoula is no less than a museum itself! This is what makes Missoula a darling city to the history enthusiasts. Missoula Historic Preservation Commission recognizes the city’s assets from the past and has planned a walking tour so that you don’t miss out any of these epic structures.
Missoula Historical Preservation Walking Tour comprises of fifteen unique historic locations. Start with the first steal framed skyscraper of Missoula, known as the Wilma Building of South Higgins Street. The building was constructed in the year 1921. Then there’s the Missoula Mercantile of North Higgins Street which was constructed from 1882 to 1891. Hardly any mercantile enterprise between the Twin Cities and Seattle is as gigantic as Missoula Mercantile. The next historic location in your walking tour is the construction of 1941, the Florence Hotel, occupying the same site where two of the previous hotels of the same name which burnt.
Now, the walking tour shifts from North Higgins Street to West Front Street where you will find three historical sites; Headquarters Building, Gleim II Building and Gleim Building. The first one, termed as ‘An Ornament to the Street’, was erected in 1888. The second and the third were put up in the 1890s, the initial of which was a brothel owned by Mary Gleim and the latter was her headquarters.
Next in the famous walking route is the Studebaker Building of West Main Street, followed by Palace Hotel and Missoula County Courthouse, both along the West Broadway Street. The West Main Street site is the oldest automobile garage of Missoula constructed in early 20th century which is full of history. The first of the West Broadway sites was raised in 1909, known as the Savoy Hotel at that time. The last one is a Neo-classical style sandstone Courthouse constructed in 1910.
The walking tour route takes you back to North Higgins Street where you will find two more historical sites, Simons Block and Higgins Block. The first one was built in 1899 and named after the business tycoon of that time, Louis N. Simmons. The second one was built in 1889 and was named after the co-founder of Missoula, C.P. Higgins.
Now, you have to walk through the East Broadway Street where you’ll get to see Beaux Arts Style building of 1909, the Masonic Temple, followed by the Italian Renaissance Revival architecture of early twenty first century, the U.S. Post Office and Federal Building. Each monumental construction brings much to the history of the area.
The final two historical sites in the touring route are Northern Pacific Railroad Depot of Railroad Street and St. Francis Xavier Church of West Pine Street. The Railroad Street building was constructed in the Renaissance Revival Style in the year 1901. The church construction was completed in 1892 with interior murals painted by Brother J. Carignano in 1990s.
Visiting the church as the last milestone of the walking tour will not only refresh your heart with spirituality, but also with its captivating artistry. Wherever you dwell, if you love history, come and take a walking tour around Missoula, the store house of unique historical sites!
Photo Information: This photo is provided by and given credit to Peter Thoeny – on Flickr.com with permission via Creative Commons Licensing.