Granite Mountain Memorial
Butte, MT 59701 |
After the U.S. entered World War I, demand for copper for the war effort had every mine in Butte working to capacity. Near midnight on June 8, 1917, a fire broke out at the 2,400-foot level of the Granite Mountain mine. It quickly spread to the neighboring Speculator mine. Fire, smoke and gas claimed 168 miners. Incredibly, 31 survived. The memorial, built in 1996, features letters to families from the fallen miners, a reproduction of the story in the Butte newspaper, and the names of the miners who gave their lives. The floor of the memorial is paved with bricks bearing families' remembrances.
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Historic Churches
Butte, MT 59701 |
Butte has many beautiful places of worship. Two - St. Lawrence Church and the Serbian Orthodox Church - have remarkable frescoes. The St. Lawrence frescoes were painted in 1906. Cared for by volunteers, the church is open to visitors on Friday and Sunday afternoons in the summer and by special arrangement. The vibrant, elaborate Serbian Orthodox frescoes may be seen during reaonsable hours all year long.
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Historic Theatres
Butte, MT 59701 |
At the height of its wealth, Butte had seven theatres that wouldn't have been out of place on Broadway. Today, the Mother Lode is the sole survivor, but what a survivor it is: beautifully restored with crystal-clear acoustics, it continues to welcome big-name acts. Winner of the national Coming Up Taller Award for its children's theatre.
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National Historic Landmark District
Butte, MT 59701 |
Uptown is filled with fine, well-preserved examples of early 20th century architecture. The Courthouse and Silver Bow Center (next door) are two of the finest. Most historic buildings are marked by handsome, burnished aluminum signs, which makes self-guided walking tours easy and informative.
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Old No. 1 Trolley Tours
Butte, MT 59701
Phone: 406 723-3177 |
The fastest and most colorful way to learn about Butte is a Trolley Tour. In about two hours, you'll see where the characters, famous folk, miners and scoundrels lived and worked. Plus, you'll hear how they made Butte the lively, urban center it was. Runs Late May through Mid September.
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Stamp Mills
Butte, MT 59701 |
A stop at the Lexington Stamp Mill will give you a quick lesson in how big chunks of rock become dime-sized pieces of ore. At one time, nine stamp mills thundered all over the "The Hill."
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Berkeley Pit
Continental Drive
Butte, MT 59701
Phone: 406-723-3177 |
The Berkeley Pit is a 1700-foot-deep hole in the ground, nearly three miles around the outside and, as you stand on the viewing stand, the far side of it about a mile away. The Pit was created over a 30-year period, beginning with block caving of some of the underground mines after World War II. By the mid-'50’s because of the availability of huge trucks and loaders, the ore was mined from the surface. The ore, containing about 1.5 percent copper, was milled at a concentrator southeast of the Pit. When ARCO closed all the mines in 1982 the underground pumps were shut off and the abandoned Pit has slowly filled with extremely acidic water. Eventually, the water will be cleaned at the water treatment plant, but in the meantime, the Pit gives Butte a lake like none other as well as giving researchers a unique challenge. Open late May through September. Admission Fee charged.
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Our Lady of the Rockies
3100 Harrison Ave
Butte, MT 59701
Phone: (406) 782-1221
http://www.ourladyoftherockies.org/ |
There's no better place to get a bird's-eye view of Butte than from Our Lady of the Rockies. This half-day tour winds up mountain roads high above town to "Our Lady." About the size of the Statue of Liberty, Our Lady was built by blue-collar volunteers. It's a great trip and an inspiring story.
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