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Consolidated city-county in Montana, United States
Photo: Roman Eugeniusz, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
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:
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"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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Guided building tours and rotating art exhibits in the mansion of Charles Clark, son of the Copper King William A. Clark.
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!
In one of the only buildings of Butte's original Chinatown. Butte's Chinatown was once the largest between Minneapolis and Seattle.
The most intact mineyard in Butte, with many auxiliary buildings surrounding the headframe.
The Con
A "mile high, mile deep", this is the deepest mine in Butte.
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.
Enjoy an ice-hockey game at the Butte Community Ice Center. The Irish play in the North American Tier III hockey league.
Built by Dreamland
18-hole disc golf course in a forested area. Mining City Disc Golf Club continuing to make improvements making this a great destination.
This 1.2 mi one-way trail winds its way up the hill from Uptown, through historic mineyards and along many of the remaining headframes, up to the Granite Mountain Memorial. Interpretive signs along the way provide details on each of the many relics along the way.
This trail runs 2 mi one-way and up 900 ft through an old gold claim to an overlook of the city, and then a steeper 1.5 mi miles to the Continental Divide Trail. The area boasts aspen groves, deer and other wildlife.
Park with 25 miles of trails, picnic areas. Multiple trail options with access to the Continental Divide Trail.
2 hour historical tour. Starts and ends at Chamber of Commerce.
Walking tours explore the colorful history of Butte, Montana — "The Richest Hill on Earth". 1½-hour tours.
The Saint Patrick's Day celebration is a regional legend. It is the kind of party that parents warn their kids about. Butte is one of those rare places that does not have an open container law. Butte is heavily Irish to this day, and the local heritage extends into the enthusiasm for this holiday. Beer is colored green, and many people flock to the town for drinking and partying.
Butte puts on a spectacular fireworks display on July 3rd, the day before most other Independence Day celebrations. It is clear that people from a mining heritage are quite comfortable around explosives. The next day, there's a large parade along Harrison Ave.
celebration for the World's Greatest Daredevil, various activities each day.
Celebrating the cities Irish history. Music, dance, vendors and other activities.
The most classic pasty shop in town, since 1946.
This takeout window sells several kinds of pasties as well as their generously filled version of cornmeal tamales, a recipe this Italian family learned as they migrated through Latin America before starting the business in 1896.
Fast food. Butte residents talk about the local variety of fried, breaded pork chop sandwich. Former Butte residents frequently wax nostalgic for Butte pasties and pork chops.
Home of the Wop Chop. Family friendly for lunch.
Large automotive-themed bar and grill with great food.
American.
Steaks and seafood. Sushi night every Thursday.
Good, more upscale American food; very good lunch served cafeteria style.
Steakhouse. If you want steak, it's arguably one of the best in town.
Full-course dinners served with pride since 1946.
Serves good espresso drinks, loose leaf tea, breakfast and lunch. Possibly Butte's best selection of vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and other specialty foods.
A classic dive bar with frequent concerts. Housed in the former Great Northern Railway depot.
Offers a friendly place for a drink, with a youthful atmosphere.
Where you will find exotic beers, including Guinness.
Offers a dark, more lounge-like feel—chairs, tables, smoking.
They have one of the best bartenders in town and despite the shiny neon casino on one side, it has a pretty nice atmosphere.
It's one of the main student hangouts for Tech and has an attached pizza restaurant with decent pizza.
A sports bar with a bank vault.
Brewer: Chuck Schnabel. Live music most Fridays.
Tasting room.
An inexpensive and historic hotel, well-located to accommodate walking through the rest of Butte's downtown. Rooms are clean and well-maintained, but be aware that cheaper rooms may actually be located in the motel section, a not-as-historic add-on with much more spartan accommodations.
An elegant, charming bed & breakfast which takes its name from the British children's classic, "The Wind in the Willows". This is truly a wonderful place for a relaxing change of pace, celebration of a special occasion, or a romantic getaway.
Charges extra for more than 2 adults even if it has 2 queen beds. Includes breakfast.
Signature item is copper, in many distinct forms from kitchenware to jewelry, to actual copper mineral samples.
By plane
There are car rentals available from the airport which is the preferred method for greater flexibility in getting around to the surrounding areas.
By bus
Bus service into town is provided by Salt Lake Express and Jefferson Lines. Both stop at the bus station at 1324 Harrison Ave.
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Butte · Regional · BTM
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