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The period from the late 1890s to the 1930s have been preserved in a "Beneath the Streets of Havre" tour for the public to explore.

Christy Owens explained, "There was a fire in 1904 that burned all the downtown area, and from there all the downtown businesses moved into their basements. And then they created the passageways."

Nearly four blocks and 60 businesses were affected by the fire.

Once the structures were rebuilt, the underground passages remained and have been restored for the generation of today.

For Becky Jenkins, taking the tour was bringing back stories she heard about growing up; she said, "It was nice to come learn the things my family had always talked about...I'm basically just learning more about it."

She has done the underground tour before, but this time wanted to have her husband experience what went on beneath the streets.

"I think it was pretty inventive. Something I don't think was done very often at all."

The tour showcases 18 different displays from their original time period in 12 separate rooms.

Owens says the tour is a large part of the Havre economy, bringing in about 7,000 people every year.

Learn more at HavreMT.com, including this overview:

Daily Tours from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Sunday-Saturday) first tour at 9:30 and last tour at 3:30

Winter Hours Monday - Saturday 10:00am - 4:00pm

Special evening or group tours available upon request For more information call (406) 265-8888.

Location: Ticket office is located on 3rd Avenue, south of Norman's Ranch Wear. *

See the history of the Great West come alive Beneath the Streets of Havre. See first hand the commerce of early days on the wild and wooly frontier. Tour the Sporting Eagle, Wah Sing Laundry, Shorty Young's Office, Gourley Bothers Bakery and more. Tours daily and reservations are needed.

Prices: Adults $12.00; Seniors $10.00; and Students $8.00. A group of 15 or more is $8.00/person.

Email: hbtsrr@havre.mt.us