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Where is Butte located?
- Nestled in the heart of Southwest Montana, Butte is a charming town that was once the beating heart of the American West.
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Why is Butte known as the ‘richest hill on earth’?
- Butte earned the title ‘richest hill on earth’ due to its huge copper deposits.
- It was a rich mining town and the largest city west of the Mississippi in the late 1900s.
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What historical attractions can visitors explore in Butte?
- Today, Butte boasts one of the largest National Historic Landmark Districts in the nation.
- It features thousands of beautifully preserved Victorian buildings, stately mansions, historical structures, and interesting museums and galleries.
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What recreational activities are available in Butte?
- The town provides a wealth of activities such as Butte Trolley tours, hiking, mountain biking, boating, and fishing.
- Visitors can also enjoy horseback riding, as well as cross-country and downhill skiing in the winter.
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1. World Museum of Mining
Explore historic mining equipment and discover underground sights on an exciting trip.
The World Museum of Mining is dedicated to the mining history of Butte and aims to preserve the town’s rich history and heritage. Founded in 1963, the museum features several exhibits and displays that tell the story Butte’s mining industry, the equipment used, and the people that lost their lives in mining-related accidents. Visitors can enjoy a guided tour down into the depths of the Orphan Girl Mine, as well as a variety of educational programs, summer camps for children, and field trips with exciting adventures like treasure hunts and more. A gift shop sells an array of souvenirs, books, and toys.
155 Museum Way, Butte, MT 59701, Phone: 406-723-7211
2. Granite Mountain Memorial Overlook
Look at panoramic views and honor miners’ legacy during a quiet fall visit.
The Granite Mountain Memorial Overlook is a historic site and viewpoint over Butte with spectacular panoramic vistas of the remains of the once-booming mining industry, the 10,000-foot Highland Mountains, Summit Valley, and the Continental Divide in the distance. The Granite Mountain played a vital role in the town’s mining industry in the 1900s and was the site of a tragic fire that swept through the area in 1917 and took 168 lives. Today, visitors can learn more about the history of the town via interpretive plaques and can buy a ‘brick ’in support of the memorial. Outdoor enthusiasts can hike the Butte trailhead which winds around the south and west of the Granite Mountain Memorial site and connects the Top of the World trail to the restored historic mine site of Mountain Con Park.
1000 George Street, Butte, MT 59701, Phone: 406-723-3177
3. Copper King Mansion
Admire Victorian architecture and explore elegant rooms on a guided historic tour.
Copper King Mansion is a privately-owned mansion that was built by William Andrews Clark in 1884 and owned by the Cote family, who still manage it today. Also known as the W. A. Clark Mansion, Copper King Mansion was built in the Romanesque Revival Victorian style by Clark, known as one of Montana's three famous Copper Kings, who developed Butte into a flourishing city. The elegant mansion features 34 rooms with beautifully preserved detailing, such as frescoed ceilings, hand-carved woodwork, stained glass windows, and antique furnishings. Other notable features of the mansion include a grand ballroom, a quaint chapel, a billiard room, and a fully stocked library. Visitors can enjoy guided tours of the mansion or spend the night in the bed-and-breakfast section of the house museum.
219 W Granite St, Butte, MT 59701, Phone: 406-782-7580
4. Headframe Spirits
Savor handcrafted cocktails and learn about local distilling on a quick weekend stop.
Headframe Spirits is a locally owned and operated micro-¬distillery in the heart of uptown Butte that produces high-quality spirits and manufactures distillation equipment for other distilleries. Established in 2010, the distillery is based in the historic Schumacher Building and has won numerous awards for their small-batch, micro-distilled spirits such as gin, whiskey, and vodka. Visitors can tour the distillery on guided tours and sample some of the spirits produced in tasting sessions throughout the week.
21 S Montana St, Butte, MT 59701, Phone: 406-299-2886
5. MBMG Mineral Museum
See brilliant gems and discover fascinating geological stuff on a fun kids outing.
The MBMG Mineral Museum is an educational institution based on the campus of Montana Tech that is dedicated to the geology and minerals of the Butte and Montana region, as well as the area's mining history. The facility houses a collection of over 1,300 specimens of rocks, minerals, and gems, including a 400-pound smoky quartz crystal and a 27.49-ounce gold nugget found in the Highland Mountains in 1989. Notable attractions at the museum include the Earthquake Studies Laboratory, and the Fluorescent Room, which contains minerals that radiate vibrant shades of blue, orange and pink when exposed to ultraviolet light. The museum offers a variety of educational workshops and field trips, and lectures. For all ages.
1300 W Park St, Butte, MT 59701, Phone: 406-496-4414
6. Our Lady of the Rockies
Visit the mountaintop statue and admire sweeping sights on a spiritual summer trip.
Our Lady of the Rockies is a 90-foot statue resting on top of Continental Divide that is dedicated to women around the world. Constructed as a project of love by resident Bob O’Bill in 1979 after promising the Virgin Mary he would create a statue in her image she helped cure his cancer-stricken wife, the statue stands 3,500 feet above the town and is lit at the base at night. The statue is the third largest statue in the United States and stands to honor the contributions of all women in the world.
5970 Montana 2, Butte, MT 59701, Phone: 406-782-1221
7. Berkeley Pit
Look at this vast mine and discover its unusual environmental history.
The Berkeley Pit is a former open-pit copper mine measuring a mile long and half-a-mile wide and is over 1,700 feet deep. The open-pit is filled with 900 feet of highly acidic water that causes chemicals and heavy metals like arsenic and zinc to seep into the surrounding rocks. More than 290 million tons of copper ore has been extracted from the pit by 1980 and the richness of the minerals found earned Butte the nickname of being the ‘Richest Hill on Earth.’ Although an environmental hazard, the pit draws tourists to view its vast chasm which can be seen from a viewing platform high above the hole.
Butte, MT 59701
8. Dumas Brothel Museum
Tour former red-light rooms and explore Butte’s unusual past with intriguing stories.
The Dumas Brothel Museum is dedicated to telling the story of the Dumas Brothel, a bordello founded in 1890 by French Canadian brothers Joseph and Arthur Nadeau, and the only surviving, three-story Victorian brothel in the country today. Named after Joseph’s wife, Delia Dumas’ maiden name, the Dumas Brothel was popular with the men working on the copper mines in Butte and continued operating until 1982 when prostitution was made illegal. Visitors can explore the brothel’s rooms on guided tours.
45 E Mercury St, Butte, MT 59701, Phone: 406-351-9922
9. Historic Clark Chateau Museum & Gallery
Visit a grand home and see art exhibits on a relaxing retirement day.
The Historic Clark Chateau Museum & Gallery is a beautifully preserved mansion built in 1898 for local copper magnate Charles Clark, the eldest son of the famous Copper King W.A. Clark. Constructed over ten years between 1898 and 1899, the mansion is set on Broadway Street and is two houses built by the Clarks, the other of which is set on Granite Street. The 26-room mansion is now a house museum and arts center and houses an impressive collection of artifacts, art, and literature documenting the life and times of Charles Clark and his famous family.
321 W Broadway St, Butte, MT 59701, Phone: 406-565-5600
10. Covellite Theater
Enjoy live performances and admire restored interiors in this easy downtown attraction.
The Covellite Theater is a community center that hosts a variety of events and functions throughout the year. Built in 1896 as the First Presbyterian Church, the building features striking Gothic architecture, detailed sandstone, and granite stonework, high vaulted ceilings, and giant timber trusses, creating a spectacular space for all types of events. The theatre can accommodate up to 300 people and has an elegant lounge area with a full-service bar, and ample indoor and outdoor space for weddings, graduation ceremonies and more.
215 W Broadway St, Butte, MT 59701
Plan Your Trip
Table of Contents:
- 1. World Museum of Mining
- 2. Granite Mountain Memorial Overlook
- 3. Copper King Mansion
- 4. Headframe Spirits
- 5. MBMG Mineral Museum
- 6. Our Lady of the Rockies
- 7. Berkeley Pit
- 8. Dumas Brothel Museum
- 9. Historic Clark Chateau Museum & Gallery
- 10. Covellite Theater