An interest in the old Broadwater Hotel and Natatorium has spawned a Web site with hundreds of photographs and postcards of the Helena area dating from the 1860s to the 1980s.

Images from Queen City native Kennon Baird join those of nearly 20 contributors on the site, which is divided into a number of categories with images of the Broadwater - built in the 1880s as a resort, it was never successful and was eventually demolished - and other Helena landmarks, such as the Capitol, the Cathedral of St. Helena, Last Chance Gulch, the Civic Center and others.

The site also contains photos and postcards depicting the towns of Wolf Creek, Boulder, Townsend, East Helena and more.

Baird grew up in Helena, living here from 1950 until 1972. He now lives in Fremont, Calif., and occasionally returns to visit his home town.

He began by focusing on the Broadwater because he grew up nearby.

"I sort of had a fondness about the place and I wanted to know more about it," Baird said.

Soon he expanded the site to include images of early Helena he found on eBay, adding them to photos he took as a youngster.

"I learned a lot about Helena," Baird said. "I thought I knew every nook and cranny of the city and all of the stories, but I sure didn't."

Vic Reiman, who maintains exhibits at the Montana Historical Society Museum said he doesn't know of another Web site that has more about historic Helena.

"My jaw dropped the first time I saw it," he said. "It's just a fantastic site."

"Everybody I've talked to thinks it's just amazing," Reiman added. "It's quite a resource."

Baird hasn't gone it alone. People in Helena have linked to the site and added their own photos and stories.

"The people who send in images and information, they're the ones who really make the Web site," he said.

Tim Kuney, founder of the Historic Broadwater Foundation, and Scott Nelson, who worked to save the historic Craig Bridge and is attempting to move the Shober House to his State Nursery property, and Wes and Carol Synness have been especially helpful, Baird said.

Carol Synness said her husband's ancestors came to the Helena area in the 1880s, and some of the photos on Baird's site come from the Synness family album.

"I'm interested in all history and especially photographs," she said. "I think he's got the best site on the Web. I love it."

Baird is always looking for more photos and more information, and some of the site's categories contain lists of topics he wants to learn more about. To learn more, visit www.lifelikecharm.com/helena_1.htm.

Read more about this site at the inKlined blog at www.helenair.com/blog/inklined.

Larry Kline can be reached at 447-4075 or larry.kline@helenair.com.