Our Story

A Rich History

Our story begins over one hundred years ago when Butte was booming. At one time, Butte was the largest city between Minneapolis and Spokane, developing as a unique mining metropolis of nearly 100,000 people in the midst of a wild, open, and largely unsettled territory. At its height in the 1920s the city bustled with cultural events, street cars, diverse ethnic neighborhoods, and stunning architecture built on the wealth of a booming copper industry. Presidents and movie stars visited the Copper City, and immigrants poured in to work in the 10,000 miles of mining tunnels underneath the town.

In the 1980s, the price of copper plummeted, resulting in closures of Butte’s remaining mines. A mass exodus ensued and the “Richest Hill on Earth” dwindled to some 30,000 residents. This economic and population decline led to high vacancy rates and left once-vibrant neighborhoods as shadows of their former selves. Many buildings were razed by arson fires or demolished in urban renewal efforts, as older buildings were commonly viewed as high-risk liabilities. Other buildings were simply not maintained during the tough economic times and they slowly deteriorated, some to the point where intervention is now urgent in order to prevent further damage.

Present Day

Residents of Butte are proud of and value their history, and that history is nothing if not a story of resilience. The city is now experiencing a renaissance, with growing interest from lovers of historic architecture, filmmakers, and investors. Butte Historic Trust was formed in 2021 to address those buildings that are perhaps not as attractive to buyers, the vacant, boarded up, or severely distressed structures that are in danger of slipping away. We aim to restore those buildings and make them into safe, functioning properties and beautiful homes once again to serve families for decades to come while also maintaining and celebrating our unique, historic landscape.