In Missoula, Montana, a local, urban archaeological survey is being conducted to see what evidence remains of the puzzling historic underground landscape. This study of Missoula’s subterranean archaeological features includes an analysis and inventory of steam tunnels, sidewalk vaults (spaces below a sidewalk directly adjacent to a building that are often accessed from a hatch or stairs from the sidewalk above), and basement spaces.

The Hammond Arcade building contains all three of these features. Of particular interest, under where you are standing on the east (Higgins Avenue) side of the building, is a large sidewalk vault. This vault has a steam access tunnel that leads out into the middle of the street and into the larger steam tunnel system that at one time was used to provide heat to the majority of buildings in downtown Missoula. The basement of this building has multiple, now blocked, doors to sidewalk vaults along both the Higgins Avenue and West Front Street sides of the building. The candy and tobacco rooms for the Missoula Drug Company were located in sections of this sidewalk vault as well. When standing at the northeast corner on Higgins Avenue, below you is the candy room, and rounding the corner on West Front Street you are standing above the sidewalk vault that once contained the tobacco room.

Most of the sidewalk vault, which connected around the building, has since been in-filled for safety and security reasons.

Information derived from the Missoula Historic Underground Archaeological Survey Project and John Coffee. Photos courtesy of the Missoula Historic Underground Archaeological Survey Project.

Credits and Sources:

Nikki Manning, University of Montana.