Built in 1920-21 as the headquarters of the Algeria Shrine, this remarkable Moorish Revival style building, with its towering minaret, has long been a popular postcard and snapshot subject.

It suffered moderate damage in the 1935 earthquakes, and the City of Helena purchased it from the Shrine shortly thereafter. It was the home of City offices until 1976, when they were removed to the renovated 1904 Federal Building. The police department operated from the Civic Center for decades, and the fire department still has a staion there.

For a detailed history of the Civic Center, download the 1987 National Register of Historic Places nomination form , courtesy of the Montana Historical Society's Montana History Wiki.

In 1938, the Helena Chamber of Commerce briefly entertained plans to build a log cabin history museum on the NE corner of Women's Park. Helena women's clubs and other concerned women nixed the location because construction would have changed the original design of the park, which they felt would have been unfair to the memory of women instrumental in making the park a possibility, and would have displaced benches and fountains that had been placed as memorials.

In May of 1939, a small museum opened in the west end of the Great Northern Depot.

In July of 1977, Entrepreneur Clem Meyer of Helena recalled to an Independent Record reporter what covering the restored dome with copper was like...

This from the National Park Service's Women's Progress Commemorative Commission Women's History Site Database (pdf file):

Prior to 1905, the area that later became Women's Park was a spot were women often stopped to rest on their way back to their west side homes after shopping downtown. Rose bushes were informally planted and benches placed in what became known as the
Women's Resting Place. In 1913, James and Mary Hill donated the land to the City of Helena for the park. The property was split in two with the construction of Fuller Avenue in 1918, and the parks became known as Hill Park and Women's Park. The Women's Park Association was formed during this period. They held a benefit ball to raise funds to beautify the parks in 1916, and over the years dedicated additional benches and other improvements.

The high circular observation platform of the Civic Center minaret, just below the dome, is reached by climbing rudimentary wooden stairs located inside the structure.

The stairs are hung from horizontal timbers that are socketed into the concrete.

Pictured above is the door leading out to the large square observation platform at the base of the cylindrical minaret.

Land for Hill Park was donated to the City of Helena by James J. Hill, builder of the Great Northern Railway. In 1914, the eastern half of the park land was upgraded by the Women's Park Association...

"The Women's Park Association was organized in April, 1914. Through the efforts of the
organization the women's section Hill Park was created, making one of the unsightly sections of the capital city a beauty spot, including a grass lawn, broad walks, beds of beautiful flowers, trees and shrubbery, stone benches, drinking fountains bird fountains and other artistic garden
furnishings. The women's work continued on for some years and gave proof of local patriotism and pride in the capital city of the state. And it is a contribution to Helena which will be more and more appreciated. The women of the associaion do not claim all the credit. The men of Helena contributed generousy, as well as the city officers, ever ready to assist whenever called upon or help."

Helena Daily Independent, Sept.1 1929