Established in 1961 and later expanded in 2006, the Butte-Anaconda Historic District has the greatest number of historic properties of any district.  In 1961, portions of Butte were designated National Historic Landmarks due to the city’s important role at the forefront of the American labor movement.  The district was expanded in 2006 to include parts of Anaconda, Walkerville, and the Butte - Anaconda & Pacific Railroad.  Walkerville contains several early mining era structures, and Anaconda was Butte’s Sister city where the copper ore was smelted.  At the start of the 20^th century, the Butte mines accounted for one-third of the copper produced in the world.  Copper was a critical element in the industrialization and growth of the United States, as it was used to bring electricity service across the country.  In addition to providing an unrivaled visual history of unionism and industrialization in America, the historic district contains many examples of early 20^th century architecture including Queen Anne (characteristic gables and turrets), Neoclassical (use of columns, pediments, and lintels), Renaissance Revival (roman arches and clay tiled roofs),and Craftsman Style (low-pitched roofs and porches with thick, square columns).

Kayde Kaiser | University of Montana | Geography Department