Butte, Montana

Just west of Bozeman, sits Butte, Montana, rising from the mountains with unmistakable character. Surrounded by sweeping ranges and wide-open sky, every window frames a postcard view and every street carries a story. Step onto Main Street in the early morning and you’re met with crisp air, quiet sidewalks, and a kind of serenity that only comes from a place shaped by both rugged landscapes and resilient people.

Please send to “Butte, America”

Dripping with history, Butte wears its past proudly. Centuries-old buildings line streets, filled with family-owned restaurants and businesses that have been in operation for generations. Long before Montana became a state, early settlers stamped their mail with “Butte, America,” a nod to the town’s early prominence as the first major city in the region.

Butte was born as a silver and gold mining camp in the late 1800s, but everything changed when copper took center stage. Vast mineral wealth earned them the flashy nickname “The Richest Hill on Earth.” At their peak in the early 1900s, Butte supplied more than 25 percent of the world’s copper and over half of the United States’ supply. Jobs poured in, people followed, and the city quickly grew to over 100,000 residents, making it the largest city between Chicago and San Francisco regions, at the time.

With opportunity came immigration. Workers arrived from across the globe, shaping Butte into one of the most multicultural cities in the American West. By the early 1900s, the city was home to record-setting Irish and Chinese populations; and at the height of the mining boom, more than 30 ethnic groups and nationalities lived side by side. Those influences remain woven into the city’s authentic restaurants and some of the country’s most celebrated cultural festivals. Over generations, these traditions blended into a community that is proud to honor its roots.

Though the mines no longer drive daily life, reminders of Butte’s mining heyday remain everywhere. From the towering headframes scattered across town to the iconic Berkeley Pit, these landmarks stand as lasting symbols of a city shaped by industry, resilience, and history that refuses to fade.

Signature Stops

• Big Butte Open Space- An eroded core of an extinct volcano that erupted over 49 million years ago and is the reason for the lands extensive mineral deposits. You can now hike or bike around the area and witness the best of Butte’s wildlife.
  • This space is responsible for naming Butte! A butte is a steep, isolated hill like the one towering over town, which early settlers used as a natural landmark. Everyone called this area “the big butte” until the name stuck for the region.
• Berkley Pit – Earning Butte its title as “The Richest Hill on Earth,” this was the city’s first large truck-operated open-pit copper mine, where nearly 1.5 billion tons of material, including more than 290 million tons of copper ore, were removed. Today, the massive pit (7,000 feet long, 5,600 feet wide, and 1,600 feet deep) can be viewed from an overlook as it slowly fills with water, a reminder of the mining’s environmental legacy and on going challenges.
• Copper King Mansion – Built between 1884 and 1888, for one of three famous Copper Kings, William Andrews Clark, this 34-room vintage mansion stands as one of Butte’s grandest historic homes. Today, guests can step back in time with Victorian-style bed and breakfast stays or explore the mansion’s grandiose interiors through guided tours.
• Metal Sports Bar – Located on the first floor of the historic Metals Bank Building, this eatery transforms the former bank lobby into a striking dining room, complete with the original vault and marble teller counters, while serving hearty American food and local drafts.
• Old Lexington Gardens – Set in the heart of Butte’s historic district, a blooming garden (during spring and summer) surrounds the city’s first stamp mill. These mining machines used heavy, hammer-like stamps to crush ore into fine powder for mineral extraction.
• Our Lady of the Rockies – Standing 90 feet tall atop the continental divide, this statue was built to resemble Mary, Jesus’ mother, and honor all mothers and women. She sits 3,500ft above the city (4^th tallest statue in America) and provides an incredible, panoramic view like no other!
• The Pasty Place – Pasties were a staple for the working miners of Butte. Beef, potatoes, and seasoning all wrapped in a pastry that left little mess, made for the perfect lunch in the underground city. Today, The Pasty Place serves those traditional bites, that continues to keep locals fueled.
• Pekin Noodle Parlor – Taste a bit of history at the oldest, continually operating family-owned Chinese restaurant in America. Also, recipients of 2023 James Beard Classics award!
• Silver Bow Drive-In – Opening in 1977, Silver Bow is the only authentic drive-in theatre remaining in Montana.
• Spooks & Spirits Trolley Tour– Hop aboard Butte’s haunted historic trolley for an interactive ride through more than 30 verified ghost locations, where local historian guides weave chilling stories of spirits, miners, and unexplained encounters that make this mining town’s past come alive after dark.
• World of Mining Museum – Step back into Butte’s early days with immersive recreations of historic buildings and exhibits that trace the evolution of mining technology. Visitors can explore authentic mining tools, learn how the industry shaped the city, and even venture underground for a firsthand look at life in the mines (just remember to wear your hardhats)!

Bragging Rights

By the late 1800s, Butte was the largest producer of copper in the world. A legacy that continued into the 20^th century.

Early 1900s, Butte had the largest Chinatown in the Intermountain West, with nearly 2,500 Chinese residents.

Uptown and Downtown Butte are part of the massive Butte-Anaconda Historic District, which is the largest National Historic Landmark District in the United States.

Butte has the most (14) remaining historic mine headframes in the United States. 

Today, they hold the largest population of Irish Americans per capita of any U.S. city.

In 1924, the deep-fried pork chop sandwich was invented at Uptown Butte’s: Pork Chop Johns.

Scattered across Butte’s historic buildings are nearly 100 preserved “ghost signs.” These are faded hand-painted advertisements from long-gone businesses that offer a rare, weathered window into the city’s commercial past.

Every Season Has a Reason

Spring paints the hills in fresh green, while traces of snow still cling to the mountain peaks above. Below, the valleys are dry, alive, and ready for fun recreation and exploration.

Summer sees Butte in full motion. As temperatures rise, thousands of visitors arrive to celebrate the town’s rich history through festivals, cultural events, and food rooted in its diverse past.

Fall leaves Butte bare as all the mountainside flora tuck away in preparation for the snow. The chill air brings locals inside to enjoy the historic restaurants and shops.

Winter blankets the mountains in soft snow, setting the stage for skiing, snowboarding, and skating. Then, warm up with a beer and a live show at the legendary, historic Mother Lode Theatre.

Mark Your Calendars

• SNöFLINGA (January/ February): The name derives from the Swedish word for “snowflake” and is an extraordinary festival that explores the wonders of Butte’s winter. This festival is fun for all ages, offering curling, snow bike riding, skating, and more!
• Miners Union Day (June): A celebration throughout the city to commemorate the reason for the city’s construction. The Mining Museum is packed with families celebrating the rich history of their hometown.
• Montana Follk Festival (July): The largest free outdoor music festival of the Northwest! There are over 200 musicians, dancers, and craftspeople who are the best of the best.
• An Ri Ra (August): Hosted by the Montana Gaelic Cultural Society, this vibrant festival celebrates Irish culture, showcasing traditional and contemporary Irish music, dance, language, and cultural workshops.
• Uptown Art Walks (May through October): Located in Uptown Butte, local businesses sponsor artists the first of each month. Artist create galleries out of abandoned buildings, adding more color and culture to the diverse city.
• Butte Vigilante Pro Rodeo (July/August) – A Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) event in Butte, Montana, hosted by the Vigilante Saddle Club & 406Heart. Experience thrilling rodeo action like bull riding, bronc riding, barrel racing, and roping, alongside community spirit, supporting local non-profits, and offering family entertainment with rodeo clowns and Western culture.
• Fly Fishing Season (April – October)

Meet the Locals

Buttians are as unforgettable as the city itself. Many locals can trace their roots back generations, with family stories that begin alongside the first miners and settlers who built this city. That deep sense of history isn’t abstract here. It lives on in the same diners, neighborhoods, and buildings where miners once gathered more than a century ago. Many of which are still part of daily life today.

There’s a phrase you’ll hear often in Butte: “Butte Tough.” It speaks to a community forged by hard work, loss, and resilience, where people show up for one another without hesitation. Whether rebuilding after hardship or simply lending a hand to a neighbor, that strength is rooted in solidarity.

True to its past, Butte remains a proud melting pot. Cultures from around the world came together here during the mining boom, and that diversity still shapes the city’s identity. Warm, welcoming, and fiercely loyal to their home, Buttians embody a kind of compassion that feels rare; proving that community has always been the city’s strongest foundation.

The Last Word

Butte draws you in far beyond what lies beneath the ground. Whether you’re riding the trolley through century-old streets or tasting a fifth-generation family recipe, there’s a moment when the city pulls you in and makes you consider staying for good. Walk roads that predate Montana itself, you’ll feel what it truly means to get LOST IN Butte, Montana.