Join Mark and Thomas Johnson on this walking tour of Helena’s “China Row” cemetery, part of the Helena C.O.R.E. Summer Walk series. At its peak, Helena’s Chinese community made up over 20% of the city's population—a vibrant presence that has since largely disappeared, leaving few physical traces. One poignant exception is “China Row,” the cemetery used by Helena's Chinese residents. Located just outside the formal boundaries of the well-maintained Forestvale Cemetery—resting place of Montana’s early leaders—China Row sits reclaimed by the prairie. Though weathered by time, the site reveals powerful stories of perseverance, adaptation, and global interconnectedness. Through an exploration of grave markers, evolution of the Chinese language, cultural symbols, and burial practices, participants will gain an appreciation for how Chinese Montanans upheld rich cultural traditions in the face of discrimination. This tour offers a unique lens into Helena’s past, highlighting the enduring impact of a community whose legacy deserves to be remembered.

The tour will take one hour. We suggest people enter Forestvale Cemetery at the corner of Forestvale Road and McHugh Lane then drive to the far NW corner of the cemetery. Cemetery officials remind folks to not park on the grass.