Helena's Civic Center is a building that stops you in your tracks. Built in 1920 as the meeting hall for the Algeria Shrine, it arrives in full Moorish Revival style — a style you might expect in Marrakesh or Seville, not a Rocky Mountain state capital. The minaret-like towers, the horseshoe arches, the ornamental tilework: all of it is completely incongruous, and completely wonderful. Helena's gold-rush millionaires built things with an exuberance that had little to do with regional precedent, and this is perhaps the finest example of that spirit.
The building was acquired by the city in 1976 and now operates as a civic venue for concerts, markets, and public events. The interior has a large performance hall and retains much of its original decorative character. If there's an event on during your visit, go. If not, the exterior alone is worth a detour — walk around the full perimeter and admire the audacity of the thing.