Historic House Museums in Montana

Built in 1903 out of red sandstone, the mansion displays original draperies, fixtures, furniture and artifacts from the family of Preston Boyd Moss.

In 1886 Marcus Daly purchased the existing Anthony Chaffin homestead, including the farmhouse, and had it completely remodeled by 1889. This was to be his family's summer residence. Because the Daly family did extensive entertaining, the Mansion was remodeled again in 1897 to a Queen Anne style Victorian home. This home, when completed, reminded Marcus of a church, so once again, remodeling plans were begun. Marcus Daly died in November of 1900 before the remodeling was started. A few years later, Mrs. Daly contracted A. J. Gibson of Missoula to go ahead with the remodeling plans. The Queen Anne home was to be incorporated into the new Georgian-Revival style home. The remodeling was completed in 1910.

This stately Queen Anne style mansion has enjoyed both public and private roles in the history of Montana and its capital city. The history of the mansion is as much a history of the people who resided here as it is of a building. Montana's Original Governor's Mansion, built in 1888 by Helena entrepreneur William Chessman as a symbol of his wealth and influence throughout the Helena community. The next two owners, the Larsons and the Conrads, continued the pattern of affluent living. In 1913 the State of Montana acquired this handsome brick mansion as the first official governor's residence for nearly half a century. Between 1913 and 1959, it was home to nine Montana governors and their families.

The Conrad Mansion was designed by Spokane architect, Kirtland Cutter, and was completed in 1895. The home's exterior is punctuated by arches, long gables, bay windows and massive native stone chimneys.