Lewis and Clark County - American Courthouses

Lewis and Clark County is named for Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, who were explores who traveled along the Missouri River.

Surrounding County Courthouses:

N – Teton County

E – Cascade County, Meagher County and Broadwater County

S – Broadwater County and Jefferson County

W – Powell County and Flathead County

Created: February 2, 1865

County Seat:

Helena 1865 – present

County Courthouse – Helena

Location: 228 East Broadway Street / North Ewing Street

Built: 1886 – 1889

Style: Romanesque Revival

Architect: Hodgson, Wallingford & Stem of St. Paul, Minnesota

Contractor: Ryan & Brunton and John J Palmer of St. Paul. Minnesota.

Description: The building faces north and is a three story rough stone structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Helena. The north and south fronts have large arched entrances in the center sections. The exterior walls are Bayfield brownstone from Wisconsin and the interior has granite walls. There is a large courtroom. The building houses the County District Court of the 1st Judicial District, Justice Court and Municipal Court. The Norman Clock tower was removed in 1935 after an earthquake. The tower, fourth-story gables and a heavy stone cornice, adornments of little use during the depression era, were not replaced. In the interior is a grand central hallway. On the second story are the north and south courtrooms. The building houses the County District Court of the 1st Judicial District, County Justice Court and Municipal Court. On the north side is the County Jail. On the east side is the Old County Jail built in 1891.

See: The 1st Judicial District includes Broadwater County.

History: The county was created in 1865 as Edgerton County and Helena was selected as the county seat. In 1867 the name was changed to Lewis And Clark County and the first courthouse, a two story square structure, was built. The second and present courthouse was constructed in 1885 to 1887.

See: Located in the county is the Montana Supreme Court.

City-County Building – Helena

Location: 316 North Park Street / West 6th Avenue

Built: 1902 – 1904

Style: Renaissance

Architect: James Knox Taylor

Contractor: Unknown

Description: The building faces east and is a four story gray colored stone and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Helena. The building was constructed as the Federal Building and became the City-County Building in 1977. The exterior is faced with Columbus sandstone. The east front has three arched entrance on the first story and above, the building is recessed with three large arched windows. The red colored roof is hipped. An addition was constructed on the west side in 1933 to 1934.