We left Helena and drove down I-15 to Butte, MT. It was a very pretty drive with 2 minor passes. Just before Butte & the intersection with I-90 is an overlook and several signs giving brief history stories of the cities in the valley. Right above and behind you while reading the signs is a Statue of Our Lady of the Rockies, watching over the City of Butte. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Our_Lady_of_the_Rockies We went into the city & stopped at the Visitors Center and figured out that most stuff was closed until Memorial Day.
So we went on a self tour and located what was open. It is an interesting place...been mining gold, copper, silver and other minerals for over 140 years. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butte,_Montana
As with any boom town, there are a lot of wild stories (I lived in one in the 1960's in North Dakota) and a lot of both people who struck it rich and those that lost everything, including their lives. We spent a few hours searching out the varying stories...makes for an interesting afternoon.
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| The mountains between Helena & Butte |
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| Our Lady of the Rockies |
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| What is left of Berkely Pit |
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