Montana Brewing Company Traditional Geocache

This cache is located in the last remaining ruins of the former Montana Brewing Company--it may not be here long, since the West Bank Park urban renewal plan shows this area being completely renovated.

I suggest parking in the public parking lot to the north, not on the road next to the cache, since the Federal Cops tend to come out and hassle people who use 'their' road.

The Montana Brewing Company building was constructed in 1893, and operated until the company went out of business due to prohibition.

After the repeal of Prohibition, the brewery--along with the American Brewing Company which had also been shut down by prohibition--was acquired by Emil Sick in 1933. Emil's New company was called Great Falls Breweries, Inc. and the Montana Brewing Company facility became the malt plant. Emil sold the business in 1949, and it was sold again in 1966 to Blitz-Weinhard Company of Portland, Oregon. Blitz-Winehard continued operations in great falls until September, 1968. At the time of its closing, the Great Falls operation was the last operating brewery in the four state area of Montana, Idaho, North Dakota, and Wyoming.

The last standing portion of the structure was demolished in 2006 to make way for the new federal courthouse.