U. S. Assay Office, 206 Broadway Street, Helena, Lewis and Clark County, MT

Significance: The large volume of gold and silver mined in the Montana Territory prompted the Treasury Department to build a United States Assay Office close to the source. Funds were appropriated by Act of Congress on May 12, 1874. The handsome red brick two-story structure was designed by A.B. Mullett, Supervising Architect for the Treasury Department, who also designed the old San Francisco Mint Building and the State, War and Navy Building in Washington, D.C. It was completed under the direction of Mullett's successor, William Appleton Potter. Russell B. Harrison, great-grandson of William Henry Harrison (the 9th president of the United States) and son of Benjamin Harrison (who would serve as 23rd president of the United States, 1889-1892), was appointed Superintendent of the Assay Office in November, 1878. He served in this position until he resigned in November, 1885. A government report of 1919 indicated that the business transacted in the Helena Assay Office, one of five in the country, was exceeded only by the receipts of the Seattle office. Activity declined after that, however, and the Helena Assay Office closed July 1, 1934.
Survey number: HABS MT-26
Building/structure dates: 1875-1877 Initial Construction