Cathedral of Saint Helena, Catholic cathedral in Helena, Montana, United States

The Cathedral of Saint Helena is a Neo-Gothic, cross-shaped basilica with a twin-tower facade. Its 230-foot spires carry gold-leafed crosses 12 feet high, and the limestone exterior holds 29 statues of saints. The interior is defined by 59 stained-glass windows, 37 of which form a cycle from Adam and Eve to the early 20th-century Church.

Construction of the Cathedral began in 1908 under architect A.O. Von Herbulis and the first Mass was celebrated in November 1914. The building faced challenges after completion that required later modifications.

The name honours Saint Helena, to whom the diocese is dedicated. Inside, 59 leaded-glass windows came from the F.X. Zettler firm of Munich; 37 of them trace the Christian story from Adam and Eve to the early 20th-century Church, a cycle the firm judged its best work in fifty years. The north tower holds fifteen hand-cast bells, one for each mystery of the Rosary.

The cathedral faces North Warren Street, and the main parking lot was built during the 2002 renovation. An elevator installed in the north transept connects the upper and lower levels, where two social halls and a kitchen now occupy the remodeled basement named for Bishop John B. Brondel. Daylight shows the Munich stained glass at its best.

The Cathedral survived a major earthquake in 1935 that required extensive structural reinforcements. These reinforcements became an integral part of the building and have preserved its stability for generations.