United States Weather Bureau (Helena, Mont.) records, 1867-1989

The first National Weather Service was created in 1870, when President Ulysses S. Grant signed into law a joint Resolution by the Congress of the United States that required the Secretary of War to provide for taking meteorological observations and informing coastal areas of oncoming storms. This was originally part of the U.S. Army Signal Service, and was named The Division of Telegrams and Reports for the Benefit of Commerce. The military would handle weather reporting for 21 years, simply reporting on the weather, and not conducting much in the way of meteorological science.

In 1891 the responsibilities of the Division of Telegrams and Reports was transferred to the Department of Agriculture’s Weather Bureau by an act of Congress where it would remain until 1940. During its time as part of the Department of Agriculture, the job of the Weather Bureau evolved. In 1910 it began issuing weekly weather outlooks for agricultural planning, and began assessing available water for irrigation. In 1914 an aerological section was established to meet the need of aviation, and by 1918 it began issuing forecast for military and domestic flights.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt transferred the Weather Bureau to the Department of Commerce, its current location at time of writing, in 1940. In 1942 the weather bureau received 25 surplus aircraft radar sets, the first weather radars that the Bureau possessed. In 1960 the United States launched the world’s first weather satellite, TIROS I, and follow it up with TIROS II allowing for new heights in weather observation and analysis. In 1965 the Environmental Science Services Administration or ESSA was created, which incorporated several agencies together. In 1970 this became the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the U.S. Weather Bureau underwent a name change, becoming the National Weather Service. The mission of the National Weather Service is to provide weather, hydrologic, and climate forecasts and warnings for the United States, its territories, adjacent waters, and ocean areas for the protection of life and property and the enhancement of the national economy.

The U.S. Weather Bureau Helena station was initially located, between April 1880 and May 1881, at the Parchen Building on Broadway Street. Between June 1881 and January 1884, the station was located at the Brown Block, at the corner of Warren and Breckenridge. Between January 1884 and April 1940, the station was located at a total of 6 different locations: the second floor of the John T. Murray Building, the Montana National Bank Building, the fifth floor of the Power Block at Main and 6th Avenue, the first floor of the residence at 200 Seventh Avenue, the sixth floor of the Power Building, and the then-new wing of the Federal Office Building at the intersection of 6th and Park Avenues. Its final location, from April 30, 1940 until its closure was in the Helena Municipal Airport Administration Building.