Even if you didn’t know that Philipsburg, Montana is officially one of “America’s Prettiest Painted Places,” a walk through the historic commercial district illustrates just how much the local businesses take pride in their town. Decorative gables, cornices, and wrought iron balconies combine with vintage streetlights, flags, and hanging flower baskets to provide color and charm. In December, lighted wreaths welcome visitors. The next time you’re driving Montana’s Pintler Scenic Highway, stop in Philipsburg to stretch your legs. A historic walking tour (maps available everywhere in town) covers 50 finely restored buildings in just a few blocks. It’s a great way to learn a lot of history in a short amount of time.

Philipsburg got its start in 1867 as a gold mining boom town. Silver was of secondary importance, as were ranching and logging. When the Northern Pacific Railroad rolled into town in 1887, Philipsburg became the mercantile center of the mining region and also experienced a construction boom. Many of the buildings and churches on the historic walking tour were built in the early 1890s during this growth spurt. Philipsburg experienced many boom and bust periods of the years, mostly bust, but it was tourism that revitalized the near ghost town in the early 1990s. Local business owners and residents banded together to restore their town and one coat of paint led to another and another. Today, tourists enjoy strolling the streets to admire the historic architecture, shopping at unique boutiques, buying fudge at the old-fashioned Sweet Palace, even mining for sapphires indoors at the Sapphire Gallery.

 The pink and blue J.C. McLeod Building (above photo) was originally an exclusive shoe store. Built in 1890 by Mr. McLeod and his business partners, the shoe store sold, repaired, and manufactured shoes with an average sales price of $10. In 1910, a movie house and soda fountain replaced the shoe store, followed by a four-lane bowling alley in the 1950s. Today ,this building is home to the Silver Mill Saloon. The green and yellow M.E. Doe Building (above photo) is next door and originally opened in 1890 as Doe’s Drug. The first gasoline sold in Philipsburg was hand-pumped from barrels out front. Philipsburg Hardware is the pink building on the end. Over the years it has served as a saloon, gambling establishment, a café known for the best pies in town, a gunsmith’s shop, and as the local hardware and plumbing supply.

Michael Kaiser, founder of the Philipsburg Water Company, built this grand hotel in 1881. A fine bar, billiard room, gambling, and T-bone steaks for 50 cents made the Kaiser House very popular with residents and travelers alike. It rivaled even the finest hotels in Helena. Snookies Mercantile is now on the ground floor and Kaiser House Lodging is on the second floor.

The Sayrs Building, built in 1888, is the architectural centerpiece of downtown Philipsburg. The First National Bank was housed here from 1892 to 1897, followed by the offices of Mesker Brothers Ironworks on the second floor, and numerous businesses—a tailor, clothier, liquor store— on the main floor.  It is the future home of Philipsburg Brewing Company and tasting room.

IF YOU GO:

Philipsburg, Montana is located about 75 miles southeast of Missoula and 60 miles west of Butte. Unlike many communities that go after tourist business and lose their charm in the process, Philipsburg preserves a true feel for its small town history in a remote corner of Big Sky Country.