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S OU TH WES T M ON TA N A36 SOUTHWEST MONTANA - VISITMT.COM
S O U T H W E S T M O N TA N Awww.southwestmt.com · 800.879.1159Even when you’re not cross-country skiing to ghost towns, checking outthe Old Montana Prison or digging for sapphires, you’ll stumble into historyeverywhere in Southwest Montana. It’s in the ornamental details of Helena’sWest Side Mansion District, testament to boom-year prospectors who struck it rich (and inReeder’s Alley’s one-room shanties, proof of those who didn’t). History is plentiful in Butte’stowering mining structures—homage to the “Richest Hill on Earth”—and in the NativeAmerican pictographs along the limestone cliffs at the Gates of the Mountains.Southwest Montana’s ample outdoor options don’t skimp on history, either. Hikers at the BigHole National Battlefield retrace the action on self-guided trails. In Anaconda, the Old WorksGolf Course features antique processing works and black tailings piles discarded as early as1884. Even quaint mom-and-pop ski hills, complete with home-grilled buffalo burgers andhot springs down the road evoke a bygone era.This region doesn’t stop at offering a window into the past—it invites visitors to try it out.Sampling old-fashioned candies and pasties (a miner’s delicacy), taking in live plays atrestored theaters and slumbering in historic hotels, travelers here tend to find themselves in atime gone by. Or has it?Left: Another roadside attraction along the Pintler Veterans’ Memorial Scenic HighwayAbove: Historical Uptown Butte Around the end of December, Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park tour guides show off the caves the oldfashioned way—by candlelight. Generally the caverns are closed for the winter. At the massive candy shop dubbed The Sweet Palace in Philipsburg, look upstairs for a tiny “chapel.” Theowner jokes it’s where patrons can pray the calories don’t turn into pounds. More than a few generations of Butte miners passed through the 43 rooms of the Dumas Brothel (now amuseum in Butte), which started serving clients in 1890 and finally closed in 1982 due to tax violations. At the Old Montana Prison Complex in Deer Lodge (now a self-guided museum), convicts were forced tobuild their own barracks and grounds in the 1890s.SOUTHWEST MONTANA - VISITMT.COM 37S OU TH WES T M ON TA N AAT A GLANCE
KNOW BEFOREYOU GOfall and spring often provide gorgeousweather and dramatically fewer tourists.Homestake Pass east of Butte on I-90,often slow down to make the climb ordescent. Sit back and enjoy the scenery.Winter here means gathering atSouthwest Montana’s less well-knownWHAT TO PACK(but no less terrain-packed) ski hills,BEST TIME TO VISITzooming around on snowmobiles andComfort is the deciding factor in thisMontana’s mild, pretty summers areschussing on cross-country skis (tryregion, usually dictating plenty of layersa popular time to visit, making forBannack Ghost Town for a unique skiand comfortable walking or hiking boots.wildflower-strewn hikes, pleasanttrip). It also means bikinis—at hot springs In the winter, bring extra layers and aCranbrook, BChorseback rides and perfect golfingranging from historic to rustic to resort-y. weatherproof parka (here, Gore-Tex willto Cardston, ABABweather. Historic towns like Virginia City CANSouthwestADA to Lethbridge,to Swift CuMontanadoes receivebe more readily accepted than Gucci).CANADAEureka and Philipsburg are popular xpecttosee(andgoaheadandwear)SweetgrassPort ofdestinations,so makeBabbsure to reserveSweetgrassplowed and safe.highwaysare generallysweatshirts, tennis shoes, ball urstSt. MaryINDIANTregoyour accommodationsearly. While therejeans even at nice establishments. AndLoringPARKRESERVATIONmight be more patronsLake at museums,Cut Bankwhen we say jeans, we mean Wranglers,HOW TO GET HEREApgarMcDonaldBrowningspots,Chinookhistoric sites andpopular recreationCarhartts or Levis.West isaveryrelativeBoth Butte and Helena host regional RudyardFalls CoramMartinCityChesterHavreterm, and mostvisitorsfind ourdefinitionAMTRAKFortWhitefishEastGlacierGalata will come to theairports, and most driversKHungry HorseGHOSTTOWNETIQUETTEBoxParkBelknapValierof “crowded” charming. endingAgencyKalispellEssexMHeart ButteFORT BELKNAPKilaAs well-preservedasDupuyerR O C K YandB O Y ’ accessibleSINDIANFlaBigforkMariontheBig SandyMontana’sINDIANR E S E Rare,VATIONSouthwestghost townsSomersadConradRivRESERVATIONLakeside FLATHEADerThis map is for reference only; see um OfficialBradyVALLEY Swan LakeMontana Highway Map for more queOn self-guidedDaytonVirgelleRIVER BREAKSElmoNATIONALMONUMENTLomatours, sky ZortmanBig Armontreasures. Look, but don’t touch, and thePolsonHot Springstowns might be around to impress theGreatFairfieldCondonRonanVaughn Fallsnext century’s ATHEAD INDIANRESERVATIONSt. ia, weySulaDivideWisdomtoSalmon, IDMelrosePIONEERMTNSSCENICBYWAY278S OU TH WES T M ON TA N AJacksonEllistonDeerLodgeConnerNeihartCanyon CreekGeorgetown sinEastHelenaMontanaCity WinstonJeffersonCityWhite SulphurSpringsTownsendBoulderRoyHikes in this area will sometimes take yourightup to unmarked (and sometimesStanfordLewistownunobstructed)open mineshafts. WhileWinnettHobsonGrassit’s highly unlikely you’d accidentallyfall inMRangeUticawhile hiking, don’t let children approachor explore mineshafts. Montana’s minesareJudithlongGapabandoned and go on for miles—Melstonethey’re not a safe place to Health-foodies, your best bets are inHelena and Butte, where health-consciousbakeries, coffee shops and cafes haveButteWordenWilsallbeen aroundLoganBig for a while. Elsewhere, digPomManhattaninto European-stylebakeries, heartyPillaTimberClyde ome-stylecafes.ForksSilverReed PointLivingstonLaurelHarrisonStarBillings HEpicureans with a uld sample Butte, whereParkpork chop C R O W I N D I A NBridgesGateway BozemanSheridanAbsarokeeNorrisRESERVATIONCity century-oldare legendary andRockvalePARADISEsandwiches FishtailSaint XaVALLEY cafes (and newcomers) serveJolietup the hsignature dishand minerBridgerlunchpail staple:AlderRoscoeEmigrantVirginiaBig Skythe pasty. (Courtesy of Welsh and CornishDillonCityRed LodgeCameronBIGHORNminers, this butterymeat- and veggieBelfryNATIONASilver CookeGardinerpackedpastry is pronounced pass-tee,Gate Citynotpay-stee.)QuakeWYOMINGTower JunctionLakeDellLimaIDAH O38 SOUTHWEST MONTANA - VISITMT.COMDentonRaynesfordGeyserMonarchWolf LincolnDrummondFlorenceWinifredFort ShawMoieseMammothHot ionWestPARKLakeYellowstoneWestto Idaho Falls, IDThumbto Rexburg, L-AMERICAN ROADto Cody, WY to Lovell, WY
Along the Pioneer Mountains Scenic BywayPLACES TO GOCOMMUNITIESBUTTE Once known as the “RichestHill on Earth,” Butte’s history is full ofadventure with deep roots in its mininghistory, cultural diversity from immigrantworkers and early days as a booming,precious-metal metropolis. Its colorfulhistory can be seen in its preservedVictorian uptown business district andstately mansions on the National HistoricRegister. The Copper King Mansion,with 32 rooms of exquisite antiques andarchitectural detail, is a must-see stop onyour uptown tour. The Charles W. ClarkChateau Mansion features changingart exhibits, marvelous collections andelegant architecture. The Granite MountainMine Memorial offers visitors a stunningpanoramic view of Butte and the nearbymountains including Our Lady of theRockies, a 90-foot statue on the EastRidge overlooking the city. The MineralMuseum includes a fascinating geologicalcollection that holds 1,500 specimens.The Berkeley Pit, Butte’s largest attraction,has a viewing stand that allows visitorsto fully appreciate the size of this formertruck-operated open-pit copper mine.Wander through Hell Roarin’ Gulch or tourthe Orphan Girl Mine at the World Museumof Mining. Check out the audio tour omDEER LODGE More museums andhistorical collections can be found herethan in any other town in the Northwest.The Old Montana Prison opened its doorsin 1871 and was in use until 1979. Selfguided tours lead visitors beyond the graystone wall. The Montana Auto Museum isa unique museum with interpretive exhibitsand over 150 antique cars on display.The Frontier Montana Museum containsthe best display of cowboy collectiblesbetween Cody, Wyoming and Calgary,Alberta. Memories of your youth willcome alive when you step into YesterdaysPlaythings, where a collection of RaggedyAnn and Andy dolls are on display. DeerLodge’s 1,500-acre Grant-Kohrs RanchNational Historic Site illustrates thedevelopment of the Northern Plains cattleindustry from the 1850s to recent N and its surrounding communitiescarry on a centuries-old tradition ofhospitality that began with the meetingof Lewis and Clark and the ShoshoneIndians at Camp Fortunate. Today, theBeaverhead, Big Hole, Grasshopper,Horse Prairie, Centennial and Red RockValleys still offer much to see and do. Thelandscape is wide open and ringed withpeaks over 10,000 feet high. The climateis cool and dry, and wildlife abounds.406.683.5511www.beaverheadchamber.orgENNIS is surrounded by three beautifulmountain ranges: the Madison Range,the Gravelly Range and the Tobacco RootMountains. In addition to its majesticmountain views, Ennis also offers accessto some of the finest fishing locations in thestate, including the Madison River, which isrenowned for its first-rate trout fishing.406.682.4388www.ennischamber.comSOUTHWEST MONTANA - VISITMT.COM 39S OU TH WES T M ON TA N AANACONDA sprang up when the giantAnaconda Copper Mining Companyof Butte needed a smelter for its vastamounts of copper ore. Smeltingoperations were suspended in 1980,but “The Stack” remains an importantlandmark and state park. Clearly visiblefrom I-90, the smokestack stands 585 feettall, one of the tallest freestanding masonrystructures in the world. Anaconda isa winter gateway community for theDiscovery Basin Ski Area and MountHaggin Nordic Ski Area, while GeorgetownLake is a hot spot for snowmobiling andice fishing. Stop and visit the CopperVillage Museum and Art Center or theornate Washoe Theater to learn about thecity’s rich history. Golf enthusiasts shouldvisit Old Works Golf Course and playMontana’s only Jack Nicklaus signaturecourse—a truly challenging lipsburg’s colorful Main Street
STATE CAPITOLPeek inside the richly adorned historic Capitolbuilding in Helena to view lavish interiorsand a gallery or two’s worth of paintings,including a renowned piece by Charles M.Russell. In the massive rotunda, four circularpaintings introduce you to quintessentialnotable Montanans—there’s one of ChiefCharlo, to represent American Indians;another of Jim Bridger, celebrating trappersand explorers; a third depicting a gold miner;and one more of a cowboy.Capitol building in HelenaOutside, architecture buffs will note theCapitol’s Greek Renaissance style, built fromsandstone and granite and topped with adome of Butte copper and a Liberty statue.Self-guided tours are available daily,group tours are offered by reservationonly, and guided tours are availableMay through September.S OU TH WES T M ON TA N A406.444.3695www.visit-the-capitol.mt.govInside the Capitol40 SOUTHWEST MONTANA - VISITMT.COMHELENA An 1864 gold strike touchedoff a boom era that transformed Helenainto the “Queen City of the Rockies” andMontana’s capital city, as seen by its 19thcentury mansions, historic businessesand restored pioneer dwellings. The LastChance Tour Train features informative,entertaining tours of the city that begin atthe Montana Historical Society, completewith a lesson in Helena’s colorful past.Listed on the National Register of HistoricPlaces, the Archie Bray Foundationwas established in 1951 and is locatedthree miles from downtown Helena.It was formerly a 26-acre brickyard,and is now internationally recognizedas a gathering place for emerging andestablished ceramic artists. Helena’s livelyperforming arts scene includes a widevariety of entertainment to enjoy. Live! atthe Civic, in its 85th year, has monthlyperformances in Helena’s Civic Center,and the Helena Symphony Orchestra,founded in 1955, performs 4 to 6 times ayear. Canyon Ferry Reservoir, just 20 mileseast of Helena, offers year-round outdoorrecreation. Helena offers world-renownedgeo-caching and mountain NCOLN is a gateway community forthe Scapegoat Wilderness and providesaccess to the Bob Marshall WildernessComplex. It’s a town where the wildlifewander right down Main Street. TheContinental Divide bisects this region andgives you the best on both sides: the SunRiver Canyon on the east slope and thebeautiful Blackfoot Valley on the west.Stop at the Lincoln Ranger Station to viewthe taxidermy display of a large 12-year-oldmale grizzly bear weighing 830 poundsand standing about 8 feet tall. Lincoln isa paradise for snowmobilers, with trailsstarting right in town. The Ponderosa SnowWarriors heated clubhouse is the hub ofsnowmobile races and events in the area,which offers 250 miles of groomed trailsand limitless play G Voted as one of the“Prettiest Painted Places in America,”Philipsburg is home to the state’s oldestoperating school, jail and opera house,all part of a walking tour of remarkablearchitecture. Granite ghost town, sapphireand ruby mining, a silver mining museumand a grand candy store, The SweetPalace, combined with some of thefriendliest folks you have ever met, willmake your visit complete. Discovery SkiArea is conveniently located nearby.406.859.3388www.philipsburgmt.comVIRGINIA CITY/NEVADA CITYIt’s been over 150 years since gold wasstruck in Alder Gulch, in the very muchalive Victorian ghost town of VirginiaCity located just 90 miles by road fromYellowstone National Park. It’s a trueMontana gem set within an incredibly richarea of beauty, recreation and history.During the winter months, snowmobilingis permitted around town, and buildingtours can be arranged for groups. Withinsledding distance of town is a trail systemthat opens into the Gravelly Range.Nevada City, a mile and a half away, offersmore than 100 buildings, a museum,restaurant, gift shop, music hall, hotel,cabins, train rides and weekend livinghistory programs sure to put you intoanother era. Check out the audio tour tychamber.comNOTABLE SITESBANNACK STATE PARK, near Dillon,is the best preserved of all Montanaghost towns. Bannack, Montana’s firstterritorial capital, was founded in 1862after a group of prospectors struckgold on Grasshopper Creek. More than50 buildings line Main Street with theirhistoric log and frame structures recallingMontana’s formative years. BannackDays features historical displays,activities and events and is held the thirdweekend in July each year. In the winter,enjoy ice skating at the rink complete withwarming hut. The visitor center providestours and is open from Memorial Daythrough Labor Day and on weekends inMay and October; the park is open yearround. For more information on the parkor for camping reservations, go tostateparks.mt.gov.406.834.3413BIG HOLE NATIONAL BATTLEFIELDThe Battle of the Big Hole on August 9and 10, 1877, was a turning point of theNez Perce War, a five-month war in whichU.S. Army forces tried to place one-third ofthe Nez Perce tribe on a reservation. Selfguided tours take you to many points onthe battlefield. The walks each take aboutan hour. Ranger-conducted programsare offered in the summer; introductorypresentations and exhibits are availableyear-round. Ten miles west of Wisdom.Open all year.406.689.3155www.nps.gov/biho
CANYON FERRY RESERVOIRTake the kids camping or boating atCanyon Ferry, which offers a variety ofrecreational opportunities including yearround fishing, sightseeing, picnicking,hiking, waterskiing, nature study andswimming. The reservoir is a popular winterdestination for ice fishing and ice boating.Canyon Ferry is one of Montana’s foremostrecreation areas because of its proximity toHelena, Great Falls, Bozeman and Butte.406.475.3921www.usbr.gov/gp, search: Canyon FerryGATES OF THE MOUNTAINS Namedby the Lewis and Clark Expedition, thisstunning stretch of the Missouri Riverfeatures towering rock formations andgorgeous canyons. Most visitors enjoy thebeauty of the Gates of the Mountains fromone of three tour boats. The 105-minutecruise starts at a marina just three miles offI-15 in the foothills of the Rocky Mountainsnear Helena. Aboard a comfortable openair river boat (covered in case of rain),you’ll glide through magnificent countrythat has not changed since the days ofLewis and Clark. Open Memorial Dayweekend through comGEORGETOWN LAKE is a popularrecreation area for boating, fishing,camping and windsurfing. The 3,000-acrehigh-mountain lake is surrounded by theFlint Creek mountain range to the northand the Pintlers to the south. Popularfish species include kokanee salmonand rainbow trout. There are four publicboat ramps. In winter the area offerssnowmobiling, ice fishing, snowkiting anddownhill and cross-country EWIS AND CLARK CAVERNS STATEPARK, located between Three Forks andWhitehall, is Montana’s first and bestknown state park and features one of thelargest known limestone caverns in theNorthwest. Naturally air conditioned, thesespectacular caves are lined with stalactites,stalagmites, columns and helictites. Thepark is open year-round, and guidedcavern tours are conducted daily betweenMay 1 and September 30. The park hasa visitor center, interpretive displays andevening programs presented during thesummer months. The visitor center isopen all year. For more information on thepark or for camping reservations, go tostateparks.mt.gov.406.287.3541MADISON CANYON EARTHQUAKEAREA AND VISITOR CENTERGet an eerie yet fascinating reminder ofnature’s violence just south of Ennis onUS 287. In 1959, an earthquake slid halfa mountain into a canyon, creating agiant dam and Quake Lake. The visitorcenter lies at the western end of theMadison Canyon Earthquake Area andoverlooks Quake Lake, offering a view ofthe Madison slide. The center featuresinterpretive programs about the 1959earthquake and a working seismograph.Open during the summer ONTANA AUTO MUSEUM AND OLDPRISON COMPLEX Take a drive throughtime at the Montana Auto Museum, partof the Powell County Museum and ArtsFoundation in Deer Lodge. View thetransition from the carriage to the car andthe effect that the automobile has had onour lives. You will see cars of the 1920sthrough the 1960s. In the Old Prison, youcan visit the enclosed courtyard wherethe convicts exercised, walk through theiraustere cell blocks and feel the chill ofthe maximum-security cells built by theconvicts in the late 1800s. Open April toDecember and limited winter hours. Callfor information.406.846.3111www.pcmaf.orgOLD WORKS GOLF COURSE inAnaconda is a Jack Nicklaus signaturegolf course. Rich in history, the site wasthe original location for Anaconda’s firstcopper smelter. The uniqueness of thesite, the Nicklaus design, the clubhousefacility and the friendly service make OldWorks a premier daily-fee golf experiencein the state and the Northwest.406.563.5989www.oldworks.orgTIZER BOTANIC GARDENS ANDARBORETUM Take a self-guided tourdown garden paths to explore thousandsof high-altitude plants, including annuals,roses, wildflowers, herbs, vegetables,perennials and bulbs in an amazingsetting. This is an internationally accreditedarboretum and an official test anddemonstration garden for the DenverBotanic Garden and Colorado StateUniversity’s “Plant Select” Program.Located near Jefferson City. Open Maythrough T MONTANA - VISITMT.COM 41S OU TH WES T M ON TA N AGRANT-KOHRS RANCH The 1,500acre Grant-Kohrs Ranch National HistoricSite, near Deer Lodge, illustrates thedevelopment of the Northern Plains cattleindustry from the 1850s to recent times.This was the headquarters of one of thelargest and best-known 19th-centuryrange ranches in the country. Guidedtours of the house, self-guided walks andexhibits are available. Open all year.406.846.2070, ext. 250www.nps.gov/grkoBig Hole National Battlefield near Wisdom
Ghost town of Bannack State Park near DillonBagpipe players at the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in ButteTHINGS TO DOLIVING-HISTORY PROGRAM NEVADACITY OPEN AIR MUSEUM – NEVADACITY, WEEKENDS MAY-SEPTEMBERThe outdoor Living History Museum inNevada City consists of over 100 historicbuildings and close to 70 living-historyinterpreters. Living-history weekends areheld Memorial Day weekend throughLabor Day weekend. Experience the OldWest in Nevada City.406.843.5247, ext 206EVENTSFor exact dates and a complete listing ofall events go to visitmt.com/events.S OU TH WES T M ON TA N ABIG HOLE VALLEY WINTERFEST/SKIJORING – WISDOM, FEBRUARYCome and enjoy our annual two-day skijoring event where horses, riders andskiers compete as a team. Competitorsof all skill levels are invited. Those withoutpartners will be matched up for theSaturday event. The race is run down MainStreet in the middle of Wisdom, Montana.406.689.3260GOVERNOR’S CUP ROAD RACE –HELENA, JUNE Montana’s largestrace ends with a fitness fair and artsand crafts fair. The event featuresMontana’s finest handmade items,food booths, live entertainment andthe race award ceremony.RACE TO THE SKY SLED DOG RACE –406.437.7990HELENA, FEBRUARY This 350-milecross-country sled dog race starts nearART IN THE PARK – ANACONDA,Helena. Send the teams off and followJULY Art in Washoe Park is one of thetheir progress as they go through thebest shows in southwest Montana, withcheckpoints and back to the finish near80 juried arts and crafts booths. EthnicLincoln. All checkpoints are accessiblefoods and professional entertainment isby car, and spectators are encouraged tooffered all three days.follow the race.406.563.2422406.881.3647ST. PATRICK’S DAY EVENTS – BUTTE,MARCH Events include the FriendlySons of St. Patrick’s Banquet ShellelaghShindig, crowning of St. Urho, bagpipes,lunch with the pipers and the St. Patrick’sDay Parade.406.723.317742 SOUTHWEST MONTANA - VISITMT.COMBANNACK DAYS – BANNACK, JULYReturn to the early days in Montana’shistory with a celebration of mining and lifein Montana’s first territorial capital. Takepart in a wagon ride, candle making, goldpanning, Main Street gunfight, old-timedancing, pioneer craft demonstrations andlots of music and family fun.406.834.3413FLINT CREEK VALLEY DAYS –PHILIPSBURG, JULY Philipsburgcelebrates its heritage with a children’sparade on Friday; a parade, games and astreet dance on Saturday; and a hot rodshow and ice cream social on Sunday.406.859.3388GRANT-KOHRS RANCH DAYS –DEER LODGE, JULY Grant-KohrsRanch presents this annual celebrationof the cattleman’s West, which includesroping, branding, chuck wagon cooking,blacksmithing, traditional cowboy musicand poetry. Speakers and culturaldemonstrators interpret the open-rangecattle era at this historic working ranchpreserved by the National Park Service.406.846.2070MONTANA FOLK FESTIVAL – BUTTE,JULY The Montana Folk Festival isa large, free outdoor event locatedpartially within the fascinating UptownButte Historic District. A mix of openair and tented sites provide a varietyof performance venues ranging fromintimate to amphitheater-size stages.406.497.6464AN RI RA MONTANA IRISH FESTIVAL –BUTTE, AUGUST The An Ri Ra MontanaIrish Festival celebrates the Irish culture andheritage of Butte. This family-oriented eventprovides an excellent opportunity to learnthe language and culture of the Irish peoplewho came to Montana. Enjoy Montana andIrish authors, musicians and dancers.406.498.3983
COMMEMORATION OF THE BATTLEOF THE BIG HOLE – WISDOM,AUGUST The Battle of the Big Holewas fought on August 9 and 10, 1877,between the U.S. military and the NezPerce. Ceremonies, demonstrations,traditional Nez Perce music and parkranger presentations help visitorsunderstand and learn about the battle.406.689.3155ENNIS ON THE MADISON FLYFISHING FESTIVAL – ENNIS,SEPTEMBER A family-oriented festivalon Main Street in Ennis celebrating allthings fly fishing with celebrity speakers,seminars, casting instruction andcompetition, fly tying demos, exhibitors,live music and great food. The festivalbenefits the Madison River Foundation’smission to preserve and protect theMadison River. Visit Ennis on Labor Dayweekend and “Tie One On!”406.682.3148LABOR DAY RODEO, CONCERT &PARADE – DILLON, SEPTEMBERThe Dillon Jaycees host this annual eventover Labor Day weekend with rodeoaction on Saturday and Sunday. Theconcert begins Sunday night followed bya parade on Monday morning.406.683.5771LINCOLN ROD RUN – LINCOLN,SEPTEMBER Lincoln Rod Run is agreat time for family and fun. This carshow attracts over 200 entries; registrationis held at Lambkins Restaurant and Barand begins at 9 a.m. Trophies are givento cars in 20 different categories. TheSaturday poker run starts at noon.406.362.4271GHOST WALKS – DILLON, OCTOBERBannack State Park’s wild past comesalive at Ghost Walks. The ghosts ofHenry Plummer, Chief Snag, Dutch JohnWagner and others come to life in thisspooky and entertaining Halloween event.Reservations required.406.834.3413BERKELEY PIT Over a mile wide and1,800 feet deep, Butte’s Berkeley Pit is anopen-pit mine that was created in 1955to answer the huge post-war demand forcopper. Now, after producing one billiontons of copper, silver, gold and other usefulmetals, the exhausted pit is slowly fillingwith toxic water leached from abandonedmine shafts. Oddly, the pit has also spurredlife: certain fungi and bacteria strains havespecially adapted to the pit’s toxic lake.These “extremophiles” are being studiedfor their ability to clean the lake and evenfight cancer. Open March to PLORATIONWORKS, located inHelena, is an innovative, hands-onmuseum of science and culture, wherelearning is active, participatory andreciprocal. The programs and exhibitsappeal to diverse audiences in anengaging discovery of the sciences,technology, social sciences, humanities,culture and everyday life. Open all year.406.457.1800www.explorationworks.orgMONTANA HISTORICAL SOCIETYFounded in 1865 to preserve Montana’sheritage, the society houses a richcollection of art, artifacts, archives andphotographs. Visit the museum to viewwork by famous cowboy artist Charles M.Russell as well as Native American cultureand Montana history exhibits. Locatedacross the street from the Capitol buildingin Helena. Open all RIGINAL GOVERNOR’S MANSIONThe history of this Helena mansion is asmuch a history of the people who residedhere as it is of a building. In 1913 the stateof Montana acquired this handsome brickmansion as the first official governor’sresidence. Between 1913 and 1959, itwas home to nine Montana governors andtheir families. Open all year, and only onSaturdays during the gR.L. WINSTON ROD COMPANY SHOPAND MUSEUM Since 1929, their goalhas been simple: to make the best fly rodsin the world. The museum, located in TwinBridges, features historical displays andphotos of the company. Open all year.406.684.5674www.winstonrods.comROCKING OUTRockhounds in Southwest Montana dig up aglittering haul of buried treasure—sapphires,crystals, garnets, amethysts, quartzes and yes,even gold. In most hot spots there’s no needto feel guilty about swiping a few jewels—thesupply is more or less inexhaustible. True, theabundance means you won’t get rich sellingyour all-too-common find, but the thrill of thehunt and the sentimental value of cutting yourdiscovery into a one-of-a-kind necklace or ringmore than makes up for it.Many Montana sites are open to the public,and we’ve listed a few here along withwhat you can find in each location, but werecommend you contact the local ForestService or Bureau of Land Management officefor other opportunities.Raw sapphiresAnaconda Area - Scheelite, epidote, argilliteand quartzite. 406.563.2400Butte Area - Smokey quartz and amethyst.Calvert Hill Mine (west of Wise River) Epidote, aquamarine and garnets.Crystal Park (north of Polaris) - Quartzcrystal, amethyst, smokey, scepter, doubleterminated and Japanese Law Twin forms.406.683.3900Helena Area - Montana sapphires.406.227.8989, www.sapphiremine.comLima Area - Tempered rocks, lava and fossils.406.276.3535Philipsburg Area - Manganese minerals andMontana sapphires.800.525.0169, www.philipsburgmt.comRuby Reservoir - Calcite, opalite and garnets.406.683.8000Sheridan Area - White and banded calcite.Virginia City Area - Gold.406.843.5555 or 800.829.2969SOUTHWEST MONTANA - VISITMT.COM 43S OU TH WES T M ON TA N AHOLIDAY CANDLELIGHT TOURSAT LEWIS AND CLARK CAVERNS –WHITEHALL, DECEMBER Lewis andClark Caverns State Park offers holidaycandlelight tours in
stone wall. The Montana Auto Museum is a unique museum with interpretive exhibits and over 150 antique cars on display. The Frontier Montana Museum contains the best display of cowboy collectibles between Cody, Wyoming and Calgary, Alberta. Memories of your youth will come alive when you step into Yesterdays Playthings, where a collection of .
