Butte, MT: Copper Mining and Milwaukee & NP Depots

Mine: (Satellite)

Visitor Center: (Satellite, 1,918 photos)

NP Depot: (Satellite)

Milwaukee Depot: (Satellite)

Aaron Witt posted six photos with the comment:

THE RICHEST HILL ON EARTH

Once known as the “Richest Hill on Earth,” this five square miles centered around Butte, Montana, at one time produced over 1/4 of the world’s copper supply.

In the late 1800s, mining was underground. The wooden head frames of the old shafts still dot the landscape.

Post WWII, the Anaconda Mining Company, the region’s big player, not only running the mines but also multiple smelters, began developing what’s now known as the Berkeley Pit.

Anaconda then went belly up in the 70s, and most of Butte’s mining operations ground to a halt. That was until Dennis Washington bought the open pit operations in the 80s, forming Montana Resources.

Now known as the Continental Pit, Montana Resources is still actively mining and concentrating copper and molybdenum on the edge of Butte.

As I drove by Saturday, I could see a 495 Bucyrus and Cat 994 on the hill, extending the pit further into the Continental Divide.

The modern photos here are from our visit in 2022.

Glenn Taylor: Anaconda did not go belly up. Anaconda was destroyed in a hostile takeover by The Atlantic Richfield corporation. Richfield had received The windfall profit tax so it had way too much money to spend. It closed all of the anaconda mines because they were an out of mining company but they kept anaconda wire. The backlash against Atlantic Richfield forced them to change their name to Arco because of the boycotting.

Michael Werner: Glenn Taylor anaconda died because of nationalization of Chile’s copper industry after anaconda spent money developing said industry in that country.

Glenn Taylor: Michael Werner agree to disagree. I bought one of the Anaconda mines after their takeover. I'm very familiar with the politics of it all. Dig back in the history and find the stories of boycotting Atlantic Richfield over their destruction of Anaconda. Cities like Tonopah Nevada were destroyed. Full page ads in the Wall Street journal telling you to tear up your Richfield credit cards. All Richfield stations turned into Arco to hide from the backlash.

Michael Werner: Glenn Taylor look back farther.

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Street View, Aug 2021

Since Aug 2021, they must have added a shovel next to the haul truck. The shovel also shows up on a satellite view.

Sally Ragusa, May 2023

Maroon colored water can never be good. Some of the comments on the above post talked about the toxic pit water.

Plinio Lisboa, Jun 2007

Roman Margold, Jun 2021

Plinio Lisboa, Jun 2007

Milwaukee Depot

Street View, Aug 2021

Mike Stella posted two photos with the comment: "Road trip took me through Butte today (8-20-24) and couldn’t resist these shots!"

Dennis DeBruler: What are the street names for a nearby intersection? I could not find this station. I did find Front Street Station.

Dennis DeBruler: Nevermind, it is here: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Jz8bhQdzp4yd8L869

Mike Stell posted again, but didn't even mention Butte.

David J. Williams: Yeah that’s Butte. It was a back in station for the Milwaukee Road.

Mike Stella: will do, actually if you google KXLF you’ll discover you are in BUTTE! That’s in Montana. Most folks think this was the Milwaukee Road station but it was actually the Butte, Anaconda, and Pacific Railway terminal shared by that other road. I will be in Missoula tomorrow and hope to get some pictures in morning daylight. I will be sure to caption any future pictures.

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I could not find this station on a satellite map. Did Milwaukee use Great Northern tracks to access  the downtown with a backing maneuver? (David's comment above confirms that this was a backin station for Milwaukee.)

Northern Pacific Depot

Street View, Aug 2021