beneath the streets

I've been to underground cities in many places and this has to be one of the best. It's not restored, it's preserved as it was when it was created (only cleaned up).How did it start? The legend says it started with a fire (started in a saloon?) that spread through the entire town during the winter. The town above ground was destroyed. However, since the town was heated by underground thermal pipes, everyone went underground to survive the cold. When time to rebuild came a problem cropped up - no trees or lumber. Politics and money kept it that way for a couple of years. The best way to cope was to make the underground as nice a possible.Finding the place is a little problem. They do have a sign, but it's small. Go a few hundred feet on 3rd Ave south of US Route 2. Look for the full size horse on the shade awnings at Norman's. It's next door.

The tour was about an hour and the fee helps with upkeep while the employees are volunteers. I learned some cool things about the history of Havre, the Railroad and the old west. I would recommend for anyone with some extra time on their hands and as a destination for history buffs. The tour guides are a little old fashioned, but for me it just added to the quaint feeling of the tour.

Who would've known that The business district of Havre had been totally wiped out by a fire set to destroy one building? That the enterprising business community moved into basements and used the subterranean infrastructure created for smuggling? Our guide, Mary, provide us an amazing tour of the underground, and told us stories of the characters and events of Havre. It is a great tour, and a great way to spend an hour in Havre. Thanks so much.

We were two couples on a two week road-trip and decided to stop In Havre, MT to tour Beneath the Streets. We were just hoping for a change of pace after riding in a vehicle for hours. We joined another couple from Canada and went on a very educational tour. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable and shared with us the history of her city. It was amazing to be able to see the furnishings that the town was able keep intact. It really allowed the visitors see how the citizens of the early 1900's lived and did business. One member of our traveling group said that this tour was the favorite of everything that we experienced on our journey.

This is an excellent view of Havre's history. The displays have been added to from when I first visited years ago. The guides are knowledgable and fun. This tour is so worth the time.

There are other historical sites near Havre that are far more professional than this. I'd suggest the Buffalo Jump, Fort Assiniboine, or Bear Paw Battlefield. Save your money on this one.

Very interesting history of a "city beneath a city" after a fire destroyed a large part of downtown Havre. Businesses moved into the basements and continued on until the city was rebuilt.

This was a great experience and a must see when in Havre. The tour is a little long, but it is neat to see the history under the hustle and bustle above ground. There is a lot to see down there.

While I think tour was good, i think it would be more interesting if they talked more about how the area was really developed. It is rumored that the area was used by the Chinese railroad workers forced underground by the discrimination at the time and then it was usurped by the "proper" citizens after the fire. Our docent didn't really have a story for how the area underground was developed so it was available after the fire. BUT - still a cool tour that will stir your imagination.

If you like quirky local museums -- this is it. The place is only partly restored -- in some of the areas, you still get a sense that these are basements used by the stores/businesses above. Given the boom/bust cycles in this area (including the current oil boom going on a few hundred miles east of here), you can really imagine the customers coming to the bordello, barber shop, dentist shop, etc. Be sure to see the Heroin on display in the pharmacy.

We weren't sure when we walked into old dusty building to buy our tickets. But you leave and walk around back of buildings and go down underground. We took Grandson (16) Nephew(22) and we all really enjoyed the tour and all the information our tour guide gave us. Loved all the old antiques and history! Well worth it!

Been to Havre for years and eventually did this tour. My only regret was that the tour group was large and it was difficult to hear some of what the guide was saying as we were at the back of the group. Very informative though and amazed as to this all happened in tiny Havre!

This place has an interesting story. However, it is damaged by the fact that the true spaces in the basement are poorly researched and include a lot of clutter of items that do not belong... when we asked our tour guide why specific items were included in exhibits she responded that they were donated items and they didn't really belong in the spaces where they were displayed. In fact, many of the spaces depicted did not actually exist, but are more dioramas to illustrate a store or office or <insert your own> that may have existed in town at some time. It appears that they simply had space in the building and had collected enough cast off old stuff to create a facsimile. When we started pressing our tour guide about specifics (evidently she is a primary school teacher) she was defensive and said "it's not in my script so I don't know." When I asked specific questions about construction she seemed appeared to generate answers inconsistent with the photographic evidence displayed on the walls behind her. We were hoping for a accurate look and information about an interesting era and building, and instead saw a collection of discarded items arranged in such a way to attempt to create a false authenticity.Very disappointed. (And, additionally, it was evident that the building and facilities are not maintained to current building codes)

We were only in Havre overnight, and we had seen this advertised, both in the hotel and on tripadvisor. We decided to do this one, and were pleasantly surprised. Our tour guide Mary was very knowledgable, and the tour is a great look at the history after the fire which took out most of downtown Havre at the turn of the century. The kids liked the sidewalk skylights, and how the tour guide explained all the things to them.

We spent time looking at the rail yard museum while waiting for our underground tour to start. People have generously donated amazing items for the Havre Beneath the Streets Tour! I was impressed with how large the area underneath is. Our tour guide, Tammy, was excellent and made us feel welcome!