The Fire Tower. The Fire Tower is an important symbol of Helena's past. Fire swept the town more than once and fire and other catastrophic events have altered the downtown landscape ever since, and will do so again no doubt.

The Bluestone House, that grey building with the gothic cupola down the hill and to the right of the Fire Tower is also said to be powerful historic symbol in its own right. In the 70s when I first came to this town it was home to a pretty good restaurant, now long-defunct, but it was also said to have been a brothel and a honkeytonk back in the glory days.

Sidewalk art: You never know what you will find downtown. This is what we saw on a downtown sidewalk on a Sunday morning in July. >>===> See more sidewalk chalk.

The Crosses of Gold, suddenly illuminated on a stormy summer evening.

One hundred years ago, Cromwell Dixon (an early aviation pioneer from Helena) is said to have flown his airplane between these twin towers.

The Bullwhacker, a fine bronze statue harkening back to Helena's old bull whacking days.

Behind bars: Is this a school or a prison? We report, you decide.

Cherry blossom season is a special time in Helena. This is how we celebrate the end of April and the beginning of Spring: Winter returns. All the new flowers are buried in snow but sometimes, somehow, the crop survives. Otherwise, the grasshoppers would all starve.

Frosty mornings This is the pathway through Hill Park one Sunday morning in early December. The morning was quiet and still with air temperature about zero (-18 C) and enough humidity to cover everything with crystals.