Best of Butte, Helena, and Southwestern Montana

Berkeley Pit [1]: Don’t think that just because this is a giant pool of toxic water it’s not worth a visit. Its vastness and its proximity to uptown Butte will give you a real sense of the scale of open-pit copper mining and how it swallowed up whole neighborhoods. The pit has filled with water since mining ceased here.

The M & M [2]: This is the state’s most famous bar; the mix of gambling, a 24-hour café, and a clientele of hardened bargoers makes this institution one of Butte’s most authentic assets.

Old Montana Prison Complex [3]: The disturbingly attractive buildings of the prison complex were built by forced convict labor.

Philipsburg [4]: Downtown Philipsburg’s Victorian storefronts are colorful and well-preserved, many with original signage. The area’s many ghost towns are also worth visiting.

Big Hole National Battlefield [5]: In 1877, rather than move onto a reservation, Chief Joseph’s band of Nez Percé fled their home. When they paused to rest in the Big Hole, they were ambushed by the U.S. Army. The battlefield is a moving place to visit in a beautiful setting.

Montana State Capitol [6]: This imposing structure is domed with a cupola of Butte copper. In the House Chamber hangs one of Charles M. Russell’s largest and most acclaimed works.

Montana Historical Society [7]: Montana’s premier museum mixes fine art, history, and changing exhibits. One of the nation’s largest public collections of Charles M. Russell’s art is here.

Holter Lake and the Gates of the Mountains [8]: Holter Lake is the most awe-inspiring of the three upper Missouri Lakes. Behind the dam lies the Gates of the Mountains, so named by Meriwether Lewis.