Helena author Brenda Wahler presents "Marcus Daly's Montana Empires" at the Lewis and Clark County Historical Society History Center on Wednesday, August 12. Admission is free.
Daly is a figure with direct relevance to Helena — he was the losing side of the bitter political fight that determined whether Helena or Anaconda would become Montana's state capital. Daly backed Anaconda; Helena won. The rivalry between Daly and fellow Copper King William Clark shaped Montana politics and economics in ways that echoed for generations, and Wahler has built a reputation as a dynamic presenter on the subject.
The History Center is a reliable venue for this kind of programming, and free admission makes it an easy Wednesday evening for anyone with an interest in how Helena became what it is. Wednesday's event is one of the better opportunities this summer to hear a local author dig into the stories behind the city's origins.