National Register of Historic Places

Forestvale Cemetery

Helena, Lewis and Clark County, Montana
Listed
February 21, 1990
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
90000145

About this property

Forestvale Cemetery (also known as Forest Vale Cemetery) is an historic cemetery in Helena, Montana. It was established in 1890 for the Helena Cemetery Association and laid out by Harry V. Wheeler. The arched stone entrance was built in 1890. Among almost 15,000 gravestones there is a mausoleum, the original property included a house for the sexton. The cemetery has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since February 21, 1990. Notable burials include Montana Governors Forrest H. Anderson (1913–1989), Tim Babcock (1919–2015), Sam C. Ford (1882–1961), Samuel T. Hauser (1833–1914), Benjamin F. Potts (1836–1887), and Sam V. Stewart (1872–1939). Other notables include businessman Charles Arthur Broadwater [1840–1892), painter Ralph E. DeCamp (1858–1936), pioneer James Fergus (1813–1902), Kentucky Governor Preston H. Leslie (1819–1907), actress Myrna Loy (1905–1993), US Senator Wilbur F. Sanders (1834–1905), and rodeo cowgirl Fannie Sperry Steele (1887–1983).

Location

490 Forestvale Rd.
Helena, Lewis and Clark County, Montana
46.65642, -112.03788

Categories

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTUREASIANEXPLORATION/SETTLEMENT
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Everything a full report reveals about Forestvale Cemetery

This page lists Forestvale Cemetery. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Nearby Historic Sites

Silver Creek School
Industrial
1.4 mi
Lewis and Clark County Hospital Historic District
Modern
2.4 mi
Montana State Fairgrounds Racetrack
Civil War
2.6 mi
Home of Peace
Civil War
2.9 mi
Western Clay Manufacturing Company
Listed
3.6 mi

Questions about this property

When was Forestvale Cemetery listed on the National Register?

Forestvale Cemetery was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 21, 1990.

What type of historic resource is Forestvale Cemetery?

Forestvale Cemetery is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Forestvale Cemetery?

The period of significance for Forestvale Cemetery is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Forestvale Cemetery?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Forestvale Cemetery will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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