PHOTOS: The Most Interesting Houses On Bozeman’s Most Historic Street

It was 1883 when the Northern Pacific Railroad showed up in Bozeman, Montana. That year was a transformative time for the most historic neighborhood in town.

The street that became Willson Avenue, was originally called Central Avenue. Willson Avenue is located in the Bon Ton District of Bozeman, and has always been an architectural hub.

To this day, even the concrete light posts that line the boulevard of South Willson are significant because they were installed in 1935 and are the only remaining 'historically important' lamp posts in town.

Bozeman's 'Bon Ton' District includes over 260 homes on South Willson, South Grand, South Third, and West Cleveland, according to HistoricMT.org.

The elaborate homes of the Bon Ton Historic District reflect the tastes and aspirations of Bozeman’s economic and cultural elite.

Its residents included the presidents and managers of successful businesses and the doctors, dentists, lawyers, and college faculty who formed the city’s ever-expanding professional class.

Several homes and buildings are included on the National Register of Historic Places. (Many of those structures you'll see in pictures below.) NRHP buildings include Dokken Funeral Home, the First Baptist Church, and even Bozeman Sheet Metal Works.

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According to the City of Bozeman: "Bozeman’s Bon Ton Historic District stretches along the 200-1000 blocks of South Willson Avenue, South Grand Avenue, South Third Avenue and West Cleveland Street."

Ironically, Willson Avenue is bookended by some of the most modern architecture in Bozeman. To the north, you'll find brand new million dollar condos. To the south, 'newish' geometrically shaped commercial buildings.

In total, Bozeman now has 47 individually listed properties on the National Register of Historic Places (that are existing).

As mentioned, a few of those are on South Willson - but the street offers so many other properties that are historic and/or architecturally important.

The City of Bozeman has a 'Historic Architecture Inventory Map' that you can enlarge. It's very helpful in finding some hidden gem buildings in this town - no matter what neighborhood.

The Fisher-Burr House (712 South Willson Ave, Bozeman): This mission style home is one of my absolute favorite residences in Bozeman, and I've never been inside. It was designed by Fred Willson while he was still working for the architecture firm Link and Haire of Butte and Helena. (Designed in 1909)

The Story Mansion (811 South Willson Ave, Bozeman): Everyone in Bozeman knows the Story Mansion. It has a fascinating history and it's own preservation society - although it's owned by the City of Bozeman and is currently a city park. It used to be the SAE fraternity house and was well known by Montana State University students. (Built in 1910)

The Blair House (415 South Willson Ave, Bozeman): Another big property in the historic Bon Ton District - This home, it's gardens, and it's guest house run the length of an entire city block. Designed by Fred Willson. Built for Dr. James F. Blair, who ran the Bozeman Sanitarium - which eventually became (the old) Bozeman Deaconess Hospital. (Built in 1912 - 1913)

H.D. Bath Residence (405 West Cleveland, Bozeman): We included this home a few blocks west of Willson Avenue, because of it's beauty and history. It too, was designed by Fred Willson. Longtime Bozeman residents might see the similarity to the old Gallatin Gateway Inn building. (Built in 1927)