What Is the Christmas Gift Evans House?
This was the home of Montana mill magnate and merchant, Christmas Gift “Chris” Evans!
What Makes It Historical?
What an unusual name, right? Mr. Evans was born on December 25, 1840, so his parents named him Christmas Gift! After moving to Helena in 1865, Mr. Evans teamed up with John Sanford to create Helena’s first water-powered sawmill, and they would later go on to deal in hay, grain, lumber, coal, and plenty more through the Sanford and Evans Feed Store. In fact, it was Mr. Sanford who built this Second Empire-style home and sold it to Mr. Evans in 1877! It’s one of Montana’s rare examples of an eclectic Victorian home, just like Mr. Silverman’s!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Become a member of the Montana Historical Society!
- Donate to the Montana Historical Society!
- Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
How Do I Get There?
404 N Benton Ave
Helena, MT 59601
(Take Me There!)
When Should I Visit?
You can visit the outside any time you like, but the inside is not open for visits!