Daily Quiz for January 17, 2008

Last Chance Gulch and Alder Gulch were sites of major 1863 gold discoveries in the American West. Each became a city and each served as capital of the territory that eventually became the state of Montana. After the gold strikes, Alder Gulch became Virginia City and Last Chance Gulch became Helena. On May 26, 1864, Congress created the Montana Territory and Virginia City became the capital in 1865. Helena was made capital of the territory in 1875. Montana became the 41st state in 1889, with Helena the state capital.