{"id":861,"featured":0,"modified":"2026-04-17 19:40:09","latitude":45.29336130617438271883656852878630161285400390625,"longitude":-111.94517694003826591142569668591022491455078125,"title":"Creighton Stone Block","subtitle":"Virginia City National Historic Landmark District","fullsize":"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/dc62e39c5b2305feabd77d5a67a4aff9.jpg","address":"120 West Wallace Street, Virginia City, Montana","all_locations":[],"zoom":16,"creator":["Montana National Register Sign Program"],"description":"Brothers John A. and Edward Creighton came west scouting the first transcontinental telegraph lines from Omaha, Nebraska, to the coast. Temporarily settling in Virginia City, Edward hired Thompson and Griffith to construct this building, the first of locally quarried stone. Beautifully returned to its original appearance, the nine arched openings once defined three separate storefronts. Early occupants included E. Creighton &amp; Co. and B. D. Maxham’s liquors and groceries. In 1866, the Creightons, who constructed the first transcontinental telegraph line in 1861, brought this critical link to Montana Territory with the first line to Salt Lake City via a pole on this corner. In 1873, the Madisonian began more than a century of publication in the building’s east portion. Edward died in 1874 and, following his wishes, his widow endowed Omaha’s Creighton University, one of the first Catholic universities in the western United States. John’s philanthropy enlarged and developed the school. John partnered with Butte’s fourth copper king, Patrick Largey, who once constructed telegraph lines for the Creightons. The State Savings Bank of Butte and the Speculator Mine were among their joint enterprises.","sponsor":null,"accessinfo":"Private","lede":"","website":"","related_resources":["<a href=\"https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/22389964-91bd-4c66-917f-0279004a042e\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Read about Virginia City National Historic Landmark District</a>","<a href=\"https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/e0b9251f-b92e-4e8e-ae20-c0bc3cec7394/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">See photos of Virginia City National Historic Landmark District</a>"],"factoids":[],"files":{"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/dc62e39c5b2305feabd77d5a67a4aff9.jpg":{"id":3057,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Corner of Wallace and Van Buren, Virginia City, Montana","description":"View of a row of businesses along a dirt street, people visible on the boardwalk as well as in a coach pulled by two horses. Corner of Wallace and Van Buren, looking southeast, in Virginia City, Montana. Businesses visible include: Creighton &amp; Company Mercantile; Maxham&#039;s Wholesale Retail Liquors and Groceries; the Capital Times; Hussey, Dahler &amp; Company Bank; and the Delevan House. | PAc 956-306. Montana Historical Society Research Center Photograph Archives, Helena, MT. | ca. 1867 | A. F. Thrasher, photographer","thumbnail":"https://historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/dc62e39c5b2305feabd77d5a67a4aff9.jpg"},"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/8cb67799ac86b5f5a21d547e5ba0f572.jpg":{"id":2780,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Creighton Stone Block, Virginia City, MT.","description":"View along south side of Wallace Street with original Allen and Millard building at left, Madisonian office on center, and false-front sided Madison County shop building at right.  | National Historic Landmark nomination form for Virginia City. From an inventory report compiled by Olaf T. Hagen, 1937. On file at the State Historic Preservation Office, Helena, MT and the National Records and Archives Administration in Washington, D.C. | 1937 | W. R. Rankin, photographer","thumbnail":"https://historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/8cb67799ac86b5f5a21d547e5ba0f572.jpg"},"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/3de76d8cced939856f0a05abff658646.jpg":{"id":2767,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Old Creighton Building, Virginia City, Montana","description":"Old Creighton building with tree standing in front. Also was Charlie Raper&#039;s mortuary, Virginia City. | PAc 956-260. Montana Historical Society Photo Archives, Helena, MT.  | 1944 | Unknown photographer","thumbnail":"https://historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/3de76d8cced939856f0a05abff658646.jpg"},"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/04ca77cb9e0cc714132056cb99c341bd.jpg":{"id":2424,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Creighton Stone Block, Virginia City","description":" View looking south at Creighton Block facade | Montana Heritage Commission | Oct 2019 | Kate Steeley, Montana Heritage Commission","thumbnail":"https://historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/04ca77cb9e0cc714132056cb99c341bd.jpg"}}}