Walkerville MontanaATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Walkerville, Montana.
1. Granite Mountain Memorial Overlook
HISTORIC MINING MEMORIAL
Granite Mountain Memorial Overlook offers visitors a chance to pay respects to the miners who lost their lives in the 1917 disaster while taking in panoramic views of the surrounding landscape. The observation deck provides educational displays about Butte's mining history and the impact it had on the community. Visitors can reflect on the area's industrial past while enjoying the scenic vistas that stretch across the historic mining district.
2. Berkeley Pit
FORMER COPPER MINE
Berkeley Pit is a former open-pit copper mine that now serves as a tourist attraction and stark reminder of the environmental impact of mining operations. The mile-long by half-mile-wide pit contains highly acidic water with dissolved heavy metals and toxic substances, creating an unusual and striking vista. Visitors can view the pit from a dedicated platform that provides informational displays about its history and ongoing environmental mitigation efforts.
3. Montana ATV Adventures
OFF-ROAD EXPLORATION TOURS
Montana ATV Adventures offers exhilarating off-road tours that allow visitors to explore the rugged terrain surrounding Walkerville. Guests can experience the natural beauty of the Montana wilderness while learning about the area's rich mining history from knowledgeable guides. The company provides well-maintained equipment and various tour options suitable for different skill levels and interests.
4. Butte-Silver Bow Public Archives
LOCAL HISTORY COLLECTION
Butte-Silver Bow Public Archives houses an extensive collection of historical documents, photographs, and artifacts related to the region's rich mining and cultural heritage. The facility offers researchers and visitors access to primary sources documenting the development of Butte, Walkerville, and surrounding areas from the late 19th century to the present. Regular exhibits and educational programs highlight different aspects of local history, making it a valuable resource for understanding the area's past.
5. Old Lexington Stamp Mill and Gardens
INDUSTRIAL HISTORY SITE
The Old Lexington Stamp Mill and Gardens combines industrial history with beautiful landscaping to create a unique visitor experience. This preserved stamp mill showcases the technology used to process ore during Butte's mining heyday, with interpretive displays explaining the operation. The surrounding gardens provide a peaceful contrast to the industrial structures, featuring native plants and designed spaces that highlight the region's natural beauty.
6. Copper King Mansion
OPULENT HISTORICAL RESIDENCE
The Copper King Mansion is the former residence of copper magnate William Andrews Clark, showcasing the opulence and wealth generated during Butte's mining boom. This 34-room Victorian mansion features ornate woodwork, stained glass windows, and period furnishings that transport visitors back to the Gilded Age. Tours of the property offer insights into both the personal life of one of America's wealthiest industrialists and the broader social history of the era when copper was king in Montana.
7. Old Butte Historical Adventures
UNDERGROUND CITY TOURS
Old Butte Historical Adventures provides guided tours of Butte's underground passageways and historic buildings that tell the story of the city's colorful past. Knowledgeable guides lead visitors through former speakeasies, mining offices, and other significant locations while sharing tales of the city's mining heyday, prohibition era, and infamous red-light district. These immersive tours offer a unique perspective on life in what was once known as the 'Richest Hill on Earth.'
8. The Piccadilly Museum
ECLECTIC COLLECTION SHOWCASE
The Piccadilly Museum houses an eclectic collection of artifacts and memorabilia that showcase various aspects of Butte's colorful history and culture. Visitors can explore exhibits featuring mining equipment, vintage advertisements, household items, and other objects that tell the story of everyday life in the region. The museum's intimate setting and carefully curated displays provide an engaging look at the area's past through the lens of material culture.
9. The Helsinki Yacht Club
HISTORIC BAR EXPERIENCE
The Helsinki Yacht Club is a beloved local bar with an ironic name, given Montana's landlocked status, that serves as a gathering place for residents and visitors alike. The establishment features authentic historic décor and memorabilia that reflect Butte's rich cultural heritage and mining history. Patrons can enjoy drinks, conversation, and occasionally live music in an atmosphere that captures the unique character of this former mining boomtown.
10. Trinity Methodist Church
HISTORIC CORNISH ARCHITECTURE
Trinity Methodist Church stands as a testament to the Cornish mining heritage of Walkerville, having been built by Cornish miners in 1889. The Romanesque-style church features distinctive architectural elements that reflect both the religious devotion and craftsmanship of the immigrant mining community that established it. Today, the church serves as an important landmark that connects visitors to the cultural influences that shaped Walkerville's development during the mining boom.
11. Our Lady of the Rockies
MONUMENTAL HILLTOP STATUE
Our Lady of the Rockies is a 90-foot statue that overlooks Butte from its perch high above the city on the Continental Divide. The statue began as a personal promise made by Bob O'Bill and eventually became a community project symbolizing love and faith while honoring women everywhere, especially mothers. Visitors can reach the statue via tours that depart from Butte, offering spectacular views of the surrounding landscape and the opportunity to learn about the statue's construction and meaning.
12. World Museum of Mining
UNDERGROUND MINING HERITAGE
The World Museum of Mining preserves and showcases Butte's rich mining history through extensive exhibits and an actual mine yard. Founded in 1963, the museum offers underground mine tours that give visitors a firsthand look at the working conditions and technologies used by miners throughout the area's industrial past. The 50-acre complex includes numerous historic buildings, equipment displays, and recreated environments that bring the story of hard rock mining to life for contemporary audiences.
13. Silver Bow Creek Greenway
RESTORED RECREATION TRAIL
Silver Bow Creek Greenway is a revitalized recreation area that follows the path of a waterway once heavily polluted by mining activities. The long bike and pedestrian path showcases successful environmental restoration efforts while providing opportunities for outdoor recreation and wildlife viewing. Visitors can enjoy scenic views of the surrounding mountains while traversing this greenway that symbolizes the region's transition from industrial exploitation to environmental stewardship.
14. Butte-Anaconda Historic District
NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK
The Butte-Anaconda Historic District encompasses the communities of Butte, Anaconda, and Walkerville, representing one of the most significant industrial heritage landscapes in the United States. This National Historic Landmark District includes numerous historic buildings, mining structures, and cultural sites that tell the story of copper production that helped electrify America. Visitors can explore this vast district to gain insights into the technological, social, and environmental aspects of one of the nation's most important mining regions.
15. Finlen Hotel
HISTORIC LUXURY ACCOMMODATION
The Finlen Hotel is a historic hotel in downtown Butte that has hosted numerous celebrities and dignitaries since its construction in 1924. Modeled after the Hotel Astor in New York City, this elegant establishment features classic architecture and period details that transport guests to the era when Butte was a wealthy mining metropolis. Today, the hotel continues to offer accommodations while also serving as a tangible link to the city's prosperous past and architectural heritage.