With a population of 632, Walkerville is a small historic town that primarily serves as a suburb of the larger community of Butte.
Home to one of the oldest mining sites in the area, Walkerville features several historical sites while maintaining nearby access to the many services and attractions of the city.
When miners struck silver north of Missoula Gulch in 1872, they triggered a population boom in the region and attracted immigrants from across the country. One such miner lured by the promise of riches was Rollo Butcher.
Three years after the original deposit was discovered, Butcher located one of the richest silver mines on the hill, the Alice. To service his newfound mine, Butcher established the first permanent residence in the region that would later become known as Walkerville.
However, Butcher couldn’t keep the news of his newly discovered deposit secret for long, and word quickly came to Salt Lake City’s Walker brothers.
Sending their agent, future Copper King Marcus Daly, the brothers promptly purchased the mine from Butcher and gave birth to the town of Walkerville.
While other investors were present in the town, the region was primarily dominated by the Walkers. They owned the general store, the Alice Hospital, the Alice Reading Room, the Alice Fire Department, and even the entire Alice Mine and Mill Band.
Walkerville was officially incorporated in 1890, and the Alice Mine’s superintendent, William Hall, was instated as the community’s first mayor.
A cable car was established in 1889 that connected Walkerville to Butte, and the two communities rapidly grew until their borders began to seemingly overlap.
While Walkerville is often overshadowed and considered a suburb of Butte, the small community maintains its independent identity. It is the only other incorporated community in Silver Bow County besides the city.
The town’s many restored and preserved buildings, landmarks, and streets continue to bear the influences and names of the historic residents that had worked to shape the town as we know it today.
Visiting Walkerville is an essential experience when traveling to Butte to understand the history and development of the local mining history of Silver Bow County.
Main Attractions in Walkerville
Only a short distance from downtown Butte, Walkerville offers easy access to all of the city’s diverse attractions.
However, the actual draw of Walkerville is the preserved buildings in its district, and the town’s top attractions all involve exploring the community’s rich histories.
World Museum of Mining
Located on Orphan Girl Mine, an actual mine yard that operated in the region, the World Museum of Mining works to preserve the history of the industry that flourished in the area for over a century.
While the mine is the museum’s centerpiece, the facility also includes exhibits that display the development of the mine’s silver, lead, and zinc production from 1875 to 1956.
The museum offers tours of the mine up to the hundred-foot level. On the tour, guests will explore the tunnels where thousands of men rigorously worked for riches, a pursuit that often proved fatal for many workers.
Also presented in the World Museum of Mining are the Roy Garret Rock & Mineral Collection, Samie Keith Doll & Dollhouse Collection, a Photo Archives, and a Memorial Wall & Remembering Garden dedicated to those that lost their lives working the mine.
Copper King Mansion
Constructed from 1884 to 1888, the Copper King Mansion was initially commissioned and owned by William A. Clark.
Along with Marcus Daly and F. Augustus Heinze, Clark was one of the principal developers of the copper mining industry in the Walkerville region. Together with his contemporaries, the three were dubbed “The Copper Kings.”
At the Copper King Mansion, visitors can explore the wealth and luxury the local copper industry brought to the region. The building features 34 rooms, stained glass windows, frescoed ceilings, antique furnishings, and hand-carved woodwork.
Guests can further explore the lavish luxuries of the mansion, including a sixty-four-foot ballroom, a billiard room, a chapel, and a library.
To enjoy the complete luxury of the Copper King lifestyle, the mansion offers its rooms to guests and operates as a Bed and Breakfast in the area.
At the Copper King Mansion, guests can adopt the lives of Walkerville’s wealthiest historical residents for the duration of their stay.
Granite Mountain Memorial Overlook
The Speculator Fire Disaster occurred on June 8, 1917, killing 168 men and marking the most significant loss of life ever in hard-rock mining’s history.
In 1996, ninety-seven years after the accident, the community of Butte erected a memorial honoring the 168 lives lost.
The Granite Mountain Memorial invites guests to explore the lives of those involved in the accident while enjoying panoramic views of the beautiful east ridge and the surrounding remnants of the region’s mining industry.
Berkeley Pitt
Opened in 1955, the Berkeley Pit was a massive copper mining operation that helped Butte earn the title of the “Richest Hill on Earth.” By 1980 over 1.5 billion tons of material had been mined from the pit, including more than 290 million tons of copper.
By the time mining ceased in 1985, the pit had grown to be 7,000 feet long, 5,600 feet wide, and 1,600 feet deep.
Over the years, the massive pit has become filled with acidic water with high concentrations of toxic chemicals and heavy metals, including copper, irons, zinc, cadmium, sulfuric acid, and arsenic.
However, the pit’s oddest curiosity is that new fungal and bacterial species have been found to have adapted to the hole’s highly toxic and volatile conditions.
Today, visitors to the pit can observe the colossal hole from a viewing platform that is a safe distance above its chemical waters.
Recreation Activities
Beyond the town’s vibrant historical sites, Walkerville offers a massive selection of outdoor activities for visitors to experience the wonderous countryside of Silver Bow County.
Fishing
There are plenty of fun fishing spots to explore Walkerville’s many surrounding bodies of water.
Whitetail Reservoir to the town’s east offers a great warm water fishing experience and features diverse species, including Black Crappie, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, and Walleye.
Alternatively, wranglers can head to the nearby Delmoe Lake. Among other native species, the lake is one of the best spots in the area for catching Westslope and Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout, the two official State Fish of Montana.
Hiking
Walkerville has many fantastic hiking trails weaving through its countryside, but one of the best ways to explore the region is along the Big Butte Trail.
The 1-mile hike features an elevation of about 1300 feet and offers breathtaking views of the county.
Camping
Beaverdam Campground offers one of the best outdoor camping experiences for those traveling to Walkerville.
The grounds are fully-serviced with picnic tables, toilets, drinking water, and parking and are located along Divide Creek providing fantastic fishing opportunities.
Accommodation
Located close to Butte, visitors to Walkerville will find plenty of options for accommodations.
- Finlen Hotel and Motor Inn
- La Quinta by Wyndham
- Comfort Inn
- Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites
- Fairfield Inn & Suites
- Best Western Plus
- Copper King Convention Center Ascend Hotel Collection
Special Events
As a suburb of Butte, MT, Walkverville residents, and visitors will have plenty of opportunities to partake in the many annual festivals and events that occur within the city.
- January – SnoFlinga — Butte, MT.
- January/February – Chinese New Year Parade — Butte, MT.
- March – Patrick’s Day Parade — Butte, MT.
- July – Freedom Fest — Butte, MT.
- July – Montana Folk Festival — Butte, MT.
- August – An Ri Ra Montana Irish Festival — Butte, MT.
- August – Silver Bow County Fair — Butte, MT.
- December – Uptown Christmas Stroll — Butte, MT.
Activities Near Walkerville
National and State Parks
- Lost Creek State Park
- Anaconda Smoke Stack State Park
- Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site
- Big Hole National Battlefield
- Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park
Recreational Activities
- Old Butte Historical Tours
- The Montana Blue Jewel Mine
- Montana Gems of Philipsburg
- Montana Zipline Adventures
Museums
- World Museum of Mining
- Mineral Museum
- Historic Clark Chateau Museum & Gallery
- Piccadilly Museum of Transportation
- Mai Wah Society Museum
- Dumas Brothel
Restaurants and Services
- Sparky’s Garage Butte
- Montana’s Rib & Chop House
- Mackenzie River Pizza, Grill & Pub
- La Casa Toscana Italian Food
- Hanging Five Restaurant