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Butte

Butte in southwest Montana, "The Richest Hill on Earth" from around 1880 to 1920, was the largest and most notorious copper boom town in the American West, home to hundreds of saloons and a famous red-light district. The city still flaunts its legacy of industry, wealth and squalor. As the sign along I-15 states::"Butte has a most cosmopolitan population derived from the four corners of the world. She was a bold, unashamed, rootin', tootin' hell-roarin' camp in days gone by and still drinks her liquor straight."

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12 places match

  1. See

    Anselmo Mine

    The most intact mineyard in Butte, with many auxiliary buildings surrounding the headframe.

  2. See

    Clark Chateau Museum and Gallery

    Guided building tours and rotating art exhibits in the mansion of Charles Clark, son of the Copper King William A. Clark.

  3. See

    Copper King Mansion

    34-room Victorian mansion built as the Butte residence of William Andrews Clark, one of Montana's three famous "Copper Kings". The home features fresco painted ceilings, elegant parquets of rare imported wood, gas and electric chandeliers, ornate hand-carved fireplaces and stairways and stained-glass windows. They offer 90 minute tours during the day, as well as overnight stays as a bed and breakfast.

    By tour, hours vary seasonally$22 adults, $20 seniors, $10 children

  4. See

    Dumas Brothel Museum

    Longest operating brothel in the U.S. (established 1890, shut down for tax evasion in 1982). The building is in poor condition with a long history of financial problems and the contents are likely not original (the site was burglarized soon after a museum in the house closed in 2005). Offering paranormal tours by reservation or check website for events. All that remains of Butte's Red-light District is on display!

    Every other Sat 11AM-6PM

  5. See

    Mai Wah Society Museum

    In one of the only buildings of Butte's original Chinatown. Butte's Chinatown was once the largest between Minneapolis and Seattle.

    Jun-Sep: Tue-Sat 10AM-4PM$8 adults, $5 students, seniors, free for under 5

  6. See

    Our Lady of the Rockies

    Our Lady of the Rockies is a 90-foot (27 m) statue, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, that sits atop the Continental Divide overlooking Butte, Montana. It is the second tallest statue in the United States after The Statue of Liberty. The statue was built by volunteers using donated materials to honor women everywhere, especially mothers. The base is 8,510 feet above sea level and 3,500 feet above the town. The statue is lit and visible at night.

  7. See

    The Mineral Museum

    1,300 specimens of minerals from around the world. The Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology Earthquake Studies Office is also located in the Museum, offering the visitor an opportunity to see active seismographs recording real time data from Montana's seismic network. The Mineral Museum conducts tours, lectures and workshops.

    Jun 15-Sep 15: daily 9AM–5PM; Sep 16-Jun 14: Mon-Fri 9AM–4PMFree admission

  8. See

    The Original Mine

    On the site of Butte's first copper mine, from 1878. The grounds are now an event space that is occasionally open to the public.

  9. See

    World Mining Museum

    Located on an actual mine yard, includes reproduction of an entire mining town, plus hundreds of original mine equipment. Plan plenty of time, this is a big museum.

    Hours: Apr–Oct 9AM-6PM; Underground Mine Tours 10:30AM, 12:30PM, 3PM. Call ahead, weather may change timesAdults: $8.50 museum, $12 underground tours

  10. See Not mapped

    Berkeley Pit

    "Butte Hole"

    The most interesting (horrifying?) feature of Butte is the 1,700-foot-deep site of a former copper mining operation that is now partially filled with toxic runoff and is listed as a Superfund site (a federal government program to clean up toxic problems). Despite the frightening description, The Pit is an interesting and instructive side trip and should not be passed up. The viewing stand offers a look at the toxic lake and surrounding mine workings.

    May-Oct 10AM-5PM$6

  11. See Not mapped

    Granite Mountain Speculator Mine Memorial

    A fire in a copper mine in 1917 lead to the death of 168 miners, the deadliest hard rock mining event in U.S. history. A memorial honoring these miners was erected at the site. Read the notes written by the miners while they waited to be rescued.

  12. See

    Mountain Consolidated Mine

    The Con

    A "mile high, mile deep", this is the deepest mine in Butte.