Labeled the “the richest hill on earth,” Butte, is home to the copper mines that helped build industrial America. In early 1870, the city of Butte got its start as a rough mining camp in southwestern Montana territory.

The discovery of copper ore in 1880 helped spread the use of electricity across the nation. As the demand for copper increased, so did the need for workers. An influx of European settlers created a uniquely diversified population.

By 1890, half of the all copper produced in America came from Butte’s copper mines. Increased production Butte’s mining past placed the city as the second largest National Historic Landmark District in the country. This distinction came as a result of the city’s role in America’s labor movement. Miners fighting for safer working conditions, better wages, and regulated hours created the largest organized labor union in the world. Butte’s labor union paved the road for the steel workers union in Pittsburgh and auto-workers union in Detroit.

In 2000, high energy prices and low price of copper forced the Butte mines to cease operation. In 2002, the National Trust for Historic Preservation named Butte a Distinctive Destination. Today visitors travel to Butte’s National Historic District to experience the rich history of the mining west.

Researched, written, and narrated by University of West Florida Public History Student Mindy Honeycutt