Editing Helena, Montana (section)

===1980s–present===
[[File:Algeria Shrine Temple (2012) - Lewis and Clark County, Montana.png|thumb|The [[Algeria Shrine Temple|Helena Civic Center]] in 2012]]
The [[Cathedral of Saint Helena]]<ref>{{Cite web|last=Corrigan|first=Terence|date=July 9, 2014|title=Helena in 75 Objects: 3. Cathedral of St. Helena|url=https://missoulian.com/helena-in-75-objects-3-cathedral-of-st-helena/article_25183940-7fe8-11e4-a893-57e5e2fb0ac4.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200718001233/https://missoulian.com/helena-in-75-objects-3-cathedral-of-st-helena/article_25183940-7fe8-11e4-a893-57e5e2fb0ac4.html|archive-date=July 18, 2020 |website=[[Missoulian]] |access-date=2020-07-17}}</ref> and the [[Helena Civic Center]]<ref>{{Cite web|last=Corrigan|first=Terrance|date=July 17, 2014|title=Helena in 75 Objects: 11. Civic center spire|url=https://missoulian.com/helena-in-75-objects-11-civic-center-spire/article_283270c8-7fe8-11e4-a8a3-779f9cb90c36.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200718012431/https://missoulian.com/helena-in-75-objects-11-civic-center-spire/article_283270c8-7fe8-11e4-a8a3-779f9cb90c36.html|archive-date=July 18, 2020 |website=[[Missoulian]] |access-date=2020-07-17}}</ref> are two of Helena's many significant historic buildings.[[File:The Bullwacker John B Weaver, Montana Historical Society Museum Store, Helena.jpg|thumb|The Bullwacker John B Weaver, Montana Historical Society Museum Store, Helena]]

Many working Helenans (approx. 18%) work for agencies of the state government.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Helena, MT |website=Data USA|url=https://datausa.io/profile/geo/helena-mt/#:~:text=%C2%B1%207.8%25-,From%202016%20to%202017,%20employment%20in%20Helena,%20MT%20grew%20at,Educational%20Services%20(1,573%20people). |access-date=2020-07-17}}</ref> When in Helena, most people visit the local walking mall. It was completed in the early 1980s after [[Urban Renewal]] and the [[Model Cities Program]] in the early 1970s had removed many historic buildings from the downtown district.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Walking Mall 1970s|url=http://www.helenahistory.org/walking_mall_1970s.htm |website=Helena As She Was |access-date=2020-07-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Helena in 75 Objects: 34. Downtown Walking Mall|url=https://missoulian.com/helena-in-75-objects-34-downtown-walking-mall/article_30a2a0e8-7fe8-11e4-a8d1-631dbe7f932f.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200718001226/https://missoulian.com/helena-in-75-objects-34-downtown-walking-mall/article_30a2a0e8-7fe8-11e4-a8d1-631dbe7f932f.html|archive-date=July 18, 2020 |website=[[Missoulian]] |access-date=2020-07-17}}</ref> During the next decade, a three-block shopping district was renovated that followed the original Last Chance Gulch. A small artificial stream runs along most of the walking mall to represent the underground springs that originally flowed above ground in parts of the Gulch.<ref>{{Cite web|date=September 2013|title=Greening Last Chance Gulch |url=https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-01/documents/helena-greening-last-chance-gulch.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223153532/https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-01/documents/helena-greening-last-chance-gulch.pdf|archive-date=February 23, 2017 |publisher=Environmental Protection Agency |access-date=July 29, 2020}}</ref>

In September 1983, the [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|EPA]] proposed that an approximately 8.4 acre site in East Helena be listed on the Superfund National Priorities List because of a zinc and lead smelting facility had been emitting heavy metals like arsenic, lead, and cadmium into the air and soil for almost a century. Following thorough testing of soil, groundwater, and biological samples (blood, stool, and hair) from local residents, the results showed that residents of East Helena, especially children under seven, recorded significantly higher blood lead levels than those of the average Montana population. Thus, the East Helena site was officially listed in June 1984 and continues to undergo regular remediation and monitoring activities in coordination with the [[United States Geological Survey]] (USGS) and the [[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention|Center for Disease Control]] (CDC).<ref>{{Cite web |last=US EPA |first=OLEM |date=2015-08-14 |title=National Priorities List (NPL) Sites - by State |url=https://www.epa.gov/superfund/national-priorities-list-npl-sites-state#MT |access-date=2025-02-26 |website=www.epa.gov |language=en}}</ref>

A significant [[1989 Helena train wreck|train wreck]] occurred on February 2, 1989, in which a 48-car runaway freight train slammed into a parked train near Carroll College, setting off an explosion that blasted out windows up to three miles away, causing most of the city to lose power and forcing some residents to evacuate in subzero weather.<ref name="HelenaIR_20090202">{{cite news|last1=Brandt|first1=Angela|date=February 2, 2009|title=20 years ago today, Helena shook, rattled and froze|work=[[Independent Record]] |location=Helena, Montana |url=https://helenair.com/news/local/article_8984de1d-0792-5aad-8021-fba2af1f35f1.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181108065646/https://helenair.com/news/local/article_8984de1d-0792-5aad-8021-fba2af1f35f1.html|archive-date=November 8, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=February 2, 2019|title=Photos: Infamous 1989 train explosion remains one of Helena's worst disasters |website=[[Independent Record]] |location=Helena, Montana |url=https://helenair.com/news/local/photos-infamous-1989-train-explosion-remains-one-of-helenas-worst-disasters/collection_0fd5b0c9-c444-5d14-913e-55e0975df73c.html|access-date=2020-07-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=February 5, 2019|title=Photos: A train exploded next to Carroll College in 1989 |work=[[Billings Gazette]]|url=https://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/photos-a-train-exploded-next-to-carroll-college-in-1989/collection_425a5f09-f89f-5567-a668-8d3a4ac5eaa1.html|url-status=live|access-date=2020-07-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200718040101/https://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/photos-a-train-exploded-next-to-carroll-college-in-1989/collection_425a5f09-f89f-5567-a668-8d3a4ac5eaa1.html|archive-date=July 18, 2020}}</ref>
[[File:Northern Pacific Railway1382 Locomotive Helena Montana.jpg|thumb|Northern Pacific Railway1382 Locomotive Helena Montana]]
With the mountains, Helena has much outdoor recreation, including [[hunting]] and [[fishing]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Fishing|url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/hlcnf/recreation/fishing|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200713202227/https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/hlcnf/recreation/fishing|archive-date=July 13, 2020 |website=United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service: Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Hunting|url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/activity/hlcnf/recreation/hunting|website=United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service: Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest }}</ref> [[Great Divide Ski Area]] is northwest of town near the [[ghost town]] of [[Marysville, Montana|Marysville]]. Helena is also known for its [[mountain biking]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Palmer|first=Denny K.|date=January 15, 2015|title=Draft Desired Conditions Comments; Forest Plan Revision Helena and Lewis & Clark National Forests |url=https://www.montanabicycleguild.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/011516-Desired-Conditions-Comments_MBG.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200719030514/https://www.montanabicycleguild.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/011516-Desired-Conditions-Comments_MBG.pdf|archive-date=July 19, 2020 |publisher=Montana Bicycle Guild }}</ref> It was officially designated as an [[International Mountain Bicycling Association]] bronze level [[Ride Center]] on October 23, 2013.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Madison|first=Erin|date=August 11, 2015|title=Helena makes its mark as mountain bike destination|url=https://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/outdoors/2015/08/03/helena-makes-mark-mountain-bike-destination/31075209/|work=[[Great Falls Tribune]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Lemon|first=Greg|date=August 15, 2015|title=Helena earns recognition as mountain biking destination |website=[[Independent Record]] |location=Helena, Montana|url=https://helenair.com/news/local/helena-earns-recognition-as-mountain-biking-destination/article_5652464d-5f5f-5476-97d9-b3227db8a096.html|url-status=live|access-date=2020-07-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180708043836/https://helenair.com/news/local/helena-earns-recognition-as-mountain-biking-destination/article_5652464d-5f5f-5476-97d9-b3227db8a096.html|archive-date=2018-07-08}}</ref>

[[Helena High School]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Search for Public Schools - School Detail for Helena High School|url=https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3013830&ID=301383000430 |website=nces.ed.gov |access-date=2020-07-18}}</ref> and [[Capital High School (Helena, Montana)|Capital High School]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Search for Public Schools - School Detail for Capital High School|url=https://nces.ed.gov/ccd/schoolsearch/school_detail.asp?Search=1&DistrictID=3013830&ID=301383000429 |website=nces.ed.gov |access-date=2020-07-18}}</ref> are public high schools in [[Helena Public School District|Helena School District]] No. 1.

In 2017, Helena voters elected as mayor former [[Liberia]]n refugee [[Wilmot Collins]], who was widely reported to be Helena's first black mayor.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Lister|first=Nolan|title=Helena mayor, US Senate candidate found not guilty of leaving crash scene|url=https://helenair.com/news/local/helena-mayor-us-senate-candidate-found-not-guilty-of-leaving-crash-scene/article_c17aa9fe-2687-5586-85a6-e691d3c2ac45.html|website=[[Independent Record]] |location=Helena, Montana |access-date=2020-07-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=In Montana, A Liberian Refugee Mounts A U.S. Senate Challenge|newspaper=NPR.org |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/10/09/767275774/in-montana-a-liberian-refugee-mounts-u-s-senate-challenge |publisher=NPR |access-date=2020-07-18}}</ref> The ''Independent Record'' reported contested research indicating that in the early 1870s one E. T. Johnson, listed in the city directory as a black barber from Washington D.C., had been elected mayor, before Helena became an incorporated town.<ref name="Indep Rec 2017-11-08">{{cite web |last1=Bridge |first1=Thom |title=Will Helena's Wilmot Collins be Montana's first black mayor? Not exactly, historians say |url=http://helenair.com/news/local/will-helena-s-wilmot-collins-be-montana-s-first-black/article_aeb6ff03-98f2-56c3-b8c3-3aec7de62af5.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171111044404/http://helenair.com/news/local/will-helena-s-wilmot-collins-be-montana-s-first-black/article_aeb6ff03-98f2-56c3-b8c3-3aec7de62af5.html |archive-date=November 11, 2017 |date=November 8, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>