Reeder's Alley — Attraction in Helena

Reeder's Alley is situated in the southwest corner of downtown Helena, the capitol of Montana. It is the oldest intact piece of early Helena. The property is a strong link to the beginnings of a settlement here, offering insights into the lives of miners, the Chinese influence, building techniques of the time, and life of the common men and women who came here seeking their fortune. Reeder’s Alley is named for Louis Reeder, a mason from Buck’s County, Pennsylvania. Reeder arrived in Helena in 1867 and one of his beginning projects was the first Lewis and Clark County Courthouse. By 1872 he had saved enough money to start purchasing lots on Cutler Street (The Alley) and started construction on over 30 brick and stone, one-room dwellings with no indoor plumbing which he rented out to miners, a comfortable alternative to lean-to's, tents and cabins. The simple masonry provided permanence and resistance to fire, a menace that plagued the early community. Sadly, Louis Reeder was fatally injured when he fell off scaffolding while working in 1884 and Cutler Street was renamed to Reeder’s Alley. Today, Reeder's Alley is home to a great restaurant, caterer, a number of offices, non-profit organizations, and Visit Helena. Stop in and say hello when you walk through the alley. The buildings in Reeder's Alley are designated as an historic district listed in the National Register of Historic Places with the National Park Service. The Alley is available to see at all hours of the day and the historic Pioneer Cabin is available for both guided and self guided tours during the summer months...

This is the filet of historic sites in Montana. Nestled into Mount Helena, a city park that is a mountain, the deeply burnished brick and long history speak in voices of minefolk still. When men were men and women were nervous. Not all of them of course, just as all men are not men.

Now of course everyone is. But I transgress.

This cobblestone street has a calming effect, and those who decide to walk amongst the shops and the unparalleled Vietnamese restaurant at the top, Saigon Alley, will find themselves transported to a time that moved slower, took more in, and drank deeply of life. The candlelight casting a bronze glow upon those gold miners faces, determined to last the night and...

This place is more of a 2 star because there's not much to see & do & the entire alley is short. All the stores were closed (9/15/20) due to covid-19. Very limited parking, especially when parked in the free area. The only structure that seemed interesting was "The Pioneer Cabin" as it got turned into a museum (see picture ). Sadly, this was also closed. There was an orange tabby cat that was sooo friendly. How perfect to have a cat roaming in the "Alley" - for this, I gave this...