Unlike the rapid boom and decline of many towns in this gold-rush region, Butte is a major city that has thrived throughout its wild history. Beginning as one of the richest copper boomtowns in the American West, Butte is filled with colourful stories, diverse cultures, mining relics and elegant architecture. Explore the town to uncover its past and learn about the mining industry’s impact on the local environment.
Known to the region as “the richest hill on earth,” Butte’s downtown area is full of landmark historic structures and stunning heritage architecture. Jump on board the Old Trolley No. 1 for a historical tour through significant sites, such as the Copper King Mansion and the formerly notorious Venus Alley, home of the Dumas Victorian Brothel Museum. Learn about the city’s bustling Chinatown and rich multicultural heritage at the Mai Wah Museum or take a closer look at precious crystals at the Mineral Museum. The World Museum of Mining is a landmark heritage museum spread across 22 acres (8.9 hectares) and features fascinating indoor and outdoor displays.
Discover Butte’s magnificent scenery and wilderness reserves. Check out the Granite Mountain Mine Memorial and enjoy an expansive vista of the city against a backdrop of rolling mountain ranges. You will be able to spot mining headframes and operational mine sites amid the town’s urban spread. Peer into the Berkeley Pit from an observation deck and see the toxic lake that has formed out of this former open-cut copper mine.
Venture out to the Continental Divide and admire Our Lady of the Rockies, an enormous 90-foot (27-metre) statue that looks out over Butte. Sheepshead Recreation Area, Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Maney Lake and Elkhorn State Park are great spots to enjoy hiking, skiing, boating and fishing in the area.
Butte is located at the crossroads of two major highways in the heart of Southwest Montana. Its nearest airport is Bert Mooney Airport, 6 miles (9.6 kilometres) from the town. Stay in modern hotels or heritage lodgings. Add the town to your road trip around this fascinating gold-rush region.
