05/30/2026
With the aim of holding on to Helena whimsy and history, you might notice the 6 stained glass panels on the west side of the carousel. While the top one with the Painted Ponies was made by Mary Harris, you might recognize her name from a previous post, the other 5 panels are remnants of the Broadwater Hotel and Natatorium.
The Broadwater Hotel and Natatorium was built by Colonel Charles Broadwater in 1889 and was as luxurious as it could get hosting elaborate woodwork, a brass chandelier with reflective orbs coated in sterling, oriental rugs AND stained glass windows. In 1946, as a result of damage caused by the 1935 earthquake the Natatorium was demolished and the hotel sold to a miner named Norman Rogers. With unrealized plans to remodel the hotel, it eventually fell into disrepair and in 1974 salvageable pieces were auctioned off and all but the stone stables, billiard rooms and the carriage house were torn down. Just west of the hotel site you can now find the amazing Broadwater Hot Springs, and while I haven’t see any brass chandeliers out there, it’s still worth a visit to soak in the hot springs.
If you want more information, check out helenahistory.org and of course, come see those stained glass panels in person.
Broadwater Hot Springs and Fitness
