Broadwater Books

Broadwater Books takes its name from the hot springs resort that once made Helena a fashionable destination, and the store carries forward that tradition of drawing people together in Montana's compact, history-rich capital city. Situated on Last Chance Gulch -- the walking mall that follows the path of the original gold strike that founded Helena -- the shop is steeped in the frontier history that defines the community. The Montana history section is extraordinary, covering everything from the Blackfeet Confederacy and the Lewis and Clark expedition to the copper kings and modern-day conservation battles. During the biennial legislative session, the store becomes an unofficial gathering place for lawmakers and policy wonks, and the political writing section sees brisk traffic. The rare books room upstairs houses early territorial maps, mining-era pamphlets, and first editions of Montana literary classics by writers like A.B. Guthrie Jr. and Norman Maclean.