{"id":2,"ordinal":0,"modified":"2026-04-17 19:40:33","content_modified":"2026-08-08 18:20:53","featured":0,"title":"Mining Industry","creator":"Christopher Gray","description":"<p>Mining significantly impacted Montana’s history and shaped the built environment. The first Montana Gold Rush in the early 1860s set the stage for massive change. Upon the discovery of gold, boom towns soon dotted the territory and drew many people of various ethnic groups to the area to work claims and supply the miners. While early mining camps grew organically in conjunction with topography and resources, later town leaders platted market towns with orderly business districts and residential areas.\r\n\r\nMining impacted more than settlement patterns. A few lucky individuals made fortunes from silver, copper, and gold. Well-connected men such as William A. Clark and Marcus Daly shaped the social, economic, and political environment of the state. Their wealth affected the built environment, too, as they supported the construction of lavish mansions, churches, hospitals, educational facilities, and company homes. The mining industry itself became such a great economic asset to the region that the state used Enabling Act funds to establish the Montana State School of Mines in Butte in the late 1880s. \r\n\r\nRailroads played a major role in the growth of Montana’s mining industry. Gold, silver, and copper mining towns served railroads such as the Union Pacific and Northern Pacific with destinations to which they could expand their service, and the ample supply of coal in Montana provided a steady source of fuel and product. Railroads knit the towns of the state together and provided Montanans with unprecedented mobility and access to products and information.  \r\n\r\nFew industries proved as important to Montana’s growth as mining, and in a few key areas this importance is written on the land.</p>","postscript_text":"","tour_img":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/1b3420f13ac123fbd83acdbec32d89d8.jpg","items":[{"id":12,"title":"Virginia City Historic District","latitude":45.29357113158426528798372601158916950225830078125,"longitude":-111.94475547022574346556211821734905242919921875,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/1b3420f13ac123fbd83acdbec32d89d8.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/1b3420f13ac123fbd83acdbec32d89d8.jpg","subtitle":"National Historic Landmark","address":"As seen on the USGS 15' Virginia City, Montana map, beginning at the northeastern corner of the town limits of Virginia City (point A), the national historic landmark boundary runs southeasterly along the eastern town boundary to the southeast corner (point B); thence southwesterly for about one and a half miles to a peak (point C) approximately 6320 feet in elevation, near the midpoint of the north line of Section 35, T6S, R3W; thence southwesterly for approximately one mile to a peak (point D) located in the northeast quarter of Section 34, T6S, R3W, approximately one-quarter miles southwest of the El Fleeta Mine; thence northwesterly approximately one and three-eighths miles to a peak (point E) located near the southeast corner of Section 21, T6S, R3W, and labeled as 6236 feet in altitude; thence northwesterly approximately one and one-eighth miles to a peak (point F) just south of the midpoint of the north line of Section 22, T6S, R3W, labeled as 5915 feet in altitude; thence southeasterly approximately one and two-thirds miles to the point of origin.\r\nVirginia City, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":54,"title":"Kramer Building (Dress Shop)","latitude":45.2933199161070803029360831715166568756103515625,"longitude":-111.9483172464041444982285611331462860107421875,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/3db39626303ee92b988505067879dbcc.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/3db39626303ee92b988505067879dbcc.jpg","subtitle":"Virginia City National Historic Landmark District","address":"316 West Wallace Street, Virginia City, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":50,"title":"Philipsburg Historic District","latitude":46.3337197999999972353180055506527423858642578125,"longitude":-113.2936872000000221305526793003082275390625,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/1b5d104c29b06dfaa337bf3b23e60e60.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/1b5d104c29b06dfaa337bf3b23e60e60.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":"Properties within the Original Townsite and selected additions, Philipsburg, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":51,"title":"Helena Historic District","latitude":46.5888103228991212745313532650470733642578125,"longitude":-112.0385308983403547244961373507976531982421875,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/7a0eade83931c1d51622ebd62d0369c3.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/7a0eade83931c1d51622ebd62d0369c3.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":"Two major areas comprise the Helena Historic District. The first area is roughly bounded by Hauser Boulevard, Monroe Avenue, Stuart Street, Dearborn Avenue, Flowerree Street, and Madison Avenue.  The second area is roughly bounded by Neill Avenue, North Last Chance Gulch, West Placer Avenue, Cruse Street, East Lawrence Street, North Ewing Street, 7th Avenue, North Rodney Street, East 6th Avenue, North Davis Street, East Broadway Street, South Cruse Avenue, Wong Street, South Park Avenue, the beginning of West Main Street, South Howie Street, North Howie Street, West Lawrence Street, Madison Avenue, Dearborn Avenue, North Benton Avenue, and North Park Avenue. \r\nHelena, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":55,"title":"F.R. Merk Block","latitude":45.29324116714990822174513596110045909881591796875,"longitude":-111.946137249469757080078125,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/e1f464ee3ee338a59a38c8960d4bd5ec.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/e1f464ee3ee338a59a38c8960d4bd5ec.jpg","subtitle":"Virginia City National Historic Landmark District","address":"210 West Wallace Street, Virginia City, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":22,"title":"Christenot Mill at Union City","latitude":45.2937603999999964798917062580585479736328125,"longitude":-111.94367349999998850762494839727878570556640625,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/c6ce9ff42114b69adfcdec6ab9875c13.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/c6ce9ff42114b69adfcdec6ab9875c13.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":"Union City, Virginia City, Montana (Restricted Access)","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":52,"title":"Helena South-Central Historic District","latitude":46.585535399999997707709553651511669158935546875,"longitude":-112.03648479999998244238668121397495269775390625,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/c13459244b90c10d0f35fcc215a447af.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/c13459244b90c10d0f35fcc215a447af.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":"Roughly bounded by Davis Street, South Warren Street, Broadway Street, and the city limits, Helena, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":53,"title":"Helena West Main Street Historic District","latitude":46.57876449999999834972186363302171230316162109375,"longitude":-112.050758999999970910721458494663238525390625,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/2fcb0598951bb147a85eb80d3a9d4c8d.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/2fcb0598951bb147a85eb80d3a9d4c8d.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":"500-600 Blocks of West Main Street, Helena, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":36,"title":"Orphan Girl Mine","latitude":46.00994279056455837917383178137242794036865234375,"longitude":-112.5650959101802754958043806254863739013671875,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/9cd3bfc5fd66500558a9aebeec9ecd59.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/9cd3bfc5fd66500558a9aebeec9ecd59.jpg","subtitle":"Butte-Anaconda Historic District","address":"West of Butte, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":41,"title":"Walkerville, Butte","latitude":46.02961890000000266809365712106227874755859375,"longitude":-112.54022800000001325315679423511028289794921875,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/6eb386ba07231c367d966f275fa0c6fb.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/6eb386ba07231c367d966f275fa0c6fb.jpg","subtitle":"Butte National Historic Landmark District","address":"Bounded by a line perpendicular to the \"Big Butte\" on the west, Anaconda Road on the east, Centerville on the south, and Ryan Road on the north, Butte, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":48,"title":"Butte-Anaconda Historic District","latitude":46.052599200000003065724740736186504364013671875,"longitude":-112.7566183000000137326424010097980499267578125,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/bd2ba836db88d642f59068fb63b43585.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/bd2ba836db88d642f59068fb63b43585.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":"The boundaries for this National Historic Landmark roughly encompass: \r\nFor Walkerville: Approximately the southern half of the town of Walkerville. \r\nFor Butte: The Uptown area bordered by Front Street and the Railroad BA & P Main Line on the south; the edge of historic mining landscape on the east; Walkerville’s northern boundary on the north; and the western edge of the city tracing the ridgeline along Big Butte, the Montana Tech boundaries and edges of the town’s Southwest neighborhood and the smelter district on the west. \r\nFor Anaconda: The city limits on the east and south; on the north, the BA & P yards and tracks define the boundary; on the west, the boundary traces the city’s limits during the period of historic significance. Visually, the historic street lighting system helps a visitor to identify the western limits of the district as well.  \r\nFor the BA & P Railroad: In Anaconda, the BA & P Main Yard, Depot, East Yard; the steel track and the 26-mile rail corridor leading to Butte; the sidings at Durant, Gregson, and Rocker; the Main Line track corridor into Butte and the remaining intact segment at the terminus of the Butte Hill line; the West Butte yard. The boundaries along the rail corridor take in 10 feet to either side of the BA & P Main Line’s center line. \r\nFor the Anaconda Smoke Stack: The boundaries follow the 5760-foot elevational contour line surrounding the smelter stack atop Smelter Hill. \r\nFor Butte’s Socialist Hall: The boundaries encompass the south 10 feet of Lot 13 and all of Lot 14, Cobban Addition, Butte, Section 19, Township 3 North, Range 7 West in the City of Butte. \r\nButte, Walkerville, and Anaconda, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":21,"title":"Pony Historic District","latitude":45.6582008999999970910721458494663238525390625,"longitude":-111.8937243999999964216840453445911407470703125,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/8b0ef2a5046a82b51cb18a549b4277b7.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/8b0ef2a5046a82b51cb18a549b4277b7.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":"Properties within the Pony Original Townsite, as well as the Townsite additions, and Properties within the Mineral Hill mining district, Pony, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":46,"title":"Great Falls Northside Residential Historic District","latitude":47.51033319999999804394974489696323871612548828125,"longitude":-111.29756520000000818981789052486419677734375,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/72089351b6cedaa156b347fc35e099d7.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/72089351b6cedaa156b347fc35e099d7.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":"200-900 blocks on 4th Avenue North; 100-900 blocks on 3rd Avenue North; 500-900 blocks on 2nd Avenue North, Great Falls, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":47,"title":"Anaconda Commercial Historic District","latitude":46.12919008489972583220151136629283428192138671875,"longitude":-112.9529392719268798828125,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/dc3e6c0627109fb270c3bc2d0a28bb40.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/dc3e6c0627109fb270c3bc2d0a28bb40.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":"100-400 blocks on East Commercial Avenue; 0-200 blocks on Main Street; 100 block on Oak Street; 100-500 block on East Park Avenue, Anaconda, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":39,"title":"South Butte Neighborhood","latitude":46.005437000000000580257619731128215789794921875,"longitude":-112.52131900000000541695044375956058502197265625,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/fdf6043f3bb2d96d14796a7c7e3a37fd.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/fdf6043f3bb2d96d14796a7c7e3a37fd.jpg","subtitle":"Butte National Historic Landmark District","address":"Bounded on the north by the BNSF Railway tracks, to the south by East Front Street, on the east by South Warren Avenue, and Utah Avenue on the west, Butte, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":37,"title":"Central Business District, Butte","latitude":46.0131559000000009973518899641931056976318359375,"longitude":-112.5359723000000258252839557826519012451171875,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/093ddd1440012435575490902e3e23fb.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/093ddd1440012435575490902e3e23fb.jpg","subtitle":"Butte National Historic Landmark District","address":"Bounded on the north by Quartz Street, on the south by Porphyry Street, on the west by Washington Street, and on the east by Arizona Street, Butte, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":40,"title":"South Central Butte Neighborhood","latitude":46.00956450000000330646798829548060894012451171875,"longitude":-112.537702200000012453529052436351776123046875,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/10068f01292c15e6a8c6d53b368196e3.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/10068f01292c15e6a8c6d53b368196e3.jpg","subtitle":"Butte National Historic Landmark District","address":"Emma Park, Butte, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":24,"title":"Hamilton Southside Residential Historic District","latitude":46.2426190999999988662239047698676586151123046875,"longitude":-114.1604353999999830193701200187206268310546875,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/f88a704dbeb2e1a33349f59a882c5d80.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/f88a704dbeb2e1a33349f59a882c5d80.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":"600 Block (west side) South 1st Street, 424 South 2nd Street, 500-600 Block South 2nd Street, 200-700 Block South 3rd Street, 109 South 4th Street, 200-600 Block South 4th Street, 100-600 Block South 5th Street, Hamilton, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":43,"title":"Red Lodge Commercial Historic District","latitude":45.1869228999999990037395036779344081878662109375,"longitude":-109.24701520000002119559212587773799896240234375,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/9308c029dfb04cc6db6d54c926e50173.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/9308c029dfb04cc6db6d54c926e50173.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":"Broadway Avenue between 8th and 11th Streets, Red Lodge, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":49,"title":"Garnet Historic District","latitude":46.82422050000000268710209638811647891998291015625,"longitude":-113.33821319999998422645148821175098419189453125,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/8474fc8600f4576ca42f174e0ec31498.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/8474fc8600f4576ca42f174e0ec31498.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":"11 miles north of junction US 90 and Bear Gulch Road, Garnet, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":27,"title":"Montana Tech Campus","latitude":46.0123564000000015994373825378715991973876953125,"longitude":-112.55704289999999900828697718679904937744140625,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/f3c01929057af8456d1211ac39451ede.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/f3c01929057af8456d1211ac39451ede.jpg","subtitle":"Butte National Historic Landmark District","address":"1300 West Park Street, Montana Tech Campus, Butte, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":38,"title":"Centerville Neighborhood, Butte","latitude":46.02018799999999743022272014059126377105712890625,"longitude":-112.53822300000001632724888622760772705078125,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/5d06e8da19cbcd12a16528ca2699b531.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/5d06e8da19cbcd12a16528ca2699b531.jpg","subtitle":"Butte National Historic Landmark District","address":"Bounded on the west by Missoula Gulch, by the crest of the Butte Hill on the north, by the Mountain Consolidated Mineyard on the east, and the Butte, Anaconda, & Pacific (BA&P) Railroad tracks on the south, Butte, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":45,"title":"Belt Commercial Historic District","latitude":47.389599500000002763044903986155986785888671875,"longitude":-110.9264382999999725143425166606903076171875,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/125817037f6523080f0520881df2bf22.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/125817037f6523080f0520881df2bf22.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":"Castner Street, Belt, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":26,"title":"Ravalli County Courthouse","latitude":46.24436299999999988585841492749750614166259765625,"longitude":-114.15748100000001841181074269115924835205078125,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/84d281c711a497e0130839c71a234a38.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/84d281c711a497e0130839c71a234a38.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":"225 Bedford Street, Hamilton, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":42,"title":"St. Mary's Neighborhood, Butte","latitude":46.01457690000000155805537360720336437225341796875,"longitude":-112.53586089999998876010067760944366455078125,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/dae5d2913442602c47ecbbb8635b451b.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/dae5d2913442602c47ecbbb8635b451b.jpg","subtitle":"Butte National Historic Landmark District","address":"Bounded by Wyoming Street on the east, Copper Street on the south, over to Excelsior Avenue on the west, then north along the BA&P railroad tracks to the city limits, Butte, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":20,"title":"Smith Mine Historic District","latitude":45.1601835973229981391341425478458404541015625,"longitude":-109.191760661580019586835987865924835205078125,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/6e1a42644c041f88cb487036daa23c93.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/6e1a42644c041f88cb487036daa23c93.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":"The Smith Mine historic district begins at the gate at the southeast corner of the site and proceeds in a northwesterly direction along the Right-of-Way (ROW) fence to where the fenceline turns 90 degrees to the north. From here, the boundary moves away from the fenceline and crosses the coulee to intersect with a two-track road. The boundary then turns again to the west to include the Cameron House at the far southwest corner of the property. From the Cameron House, the boundary follows the contour of the hillside to the north until it reaches the powder magazine located at the head of the coulee. From the magazine the boundary crosses the coulee eastward following the contour of the sandstone outcropping. The boundary then follows the edge of the sandstone rims in a generally easterly, then northeasterly direction until it reaches a point above the power plant. From here, the boundary follows the irregular outline of the reclaimed area to the east, then south, then west on the north side of the coulee to meet the two-track road. From here the boundary continues southeast to the gate and the place of its beginning.\r\nBearcreek, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":44,"title":"Red Lodge Labor Temple","latitude":45.18974200000000251975507126189768314361572265625,"longitude":-109.246711000000004787580110132694244384765625,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/1b9a91cc93adca3c916bc6c043cd901a.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/1b9a91cc93adca3c916bc6c043cd901a.jpg","subtitle":"Red Lodge Commercial Historic District","address":"224 Broadway Avenue North, Red Lodge, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":25,"title":"Riverside (Daly Mansion)","latitude":46.26748740000000026384441298432648181915283203125,"longitude":-114.1424690000000055078999139368534088134765625,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/2f40b289b20fc397449e656c13ca83d6.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/2f40b289b20fc397449e656c13ca83d6.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":"251 Eastside Highway, Hamilton, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":23,"title":"Gildersleeve Mine","latitude":47.03640065393604885457534692250192165374755859375,"longitude":-115.0358687193391915570828132331371307373046875,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/1c65492c77acf94bd7c5111b7e1db12e.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/1c65492c77acf94bd7c5111b7e1db12e.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":"Snowshoe Gulch, Lolo National Forest, Superior, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":2212,"title":"Bannack Historic District","latitude":45.161020100000001775697455741465091705322265625,"longitude":-112.99386390000000801592250354588031768798828125,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/60a39a83188d7687aa789f9d8cd17a66.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/60a39a83188d7687aa789f9d8cd17a66.jpg","subtitle":"National Historic Landmark","address":"25 miles west-southwest of Dillon off MT Highway 278, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}}]}