Butte-Silver Bow Historical Society

06/01/2026

In 1905, young New England attorney Burton Wheeler stepped off the train at Butte to stretch his legs, lost his money in a poker game, and decided to stay. Courtroom success quickly earned Wheeler a…

05/31/2026

Bertoglio & Grosso Grocery Store was once located at 29 Main Street in which lost Butte neighborhood? 🏘️

Do you know the answer? Drop it in the comments! 👇

Photo: Courtesy of Jim Michelotti

05/27/2026

Thomas Hodgens, who held the prestigious position of cashier at the State Savings Bank, was the first owner of this magnificent T-shaped Classical Revival style residence built in 1899. Second owner…

05/25/2026

When Mount Moriah Cemetery was established in 1877, it originally consisted of four blocks: A, B, C, and D. Block A was designated for the Masons, and Block B for the Odd Fellows, who co-founded the…

05/20/2026

05/20/2026

This building once housed the Butte Miner, copper king William Clark's newspaper.

05/20/2026

Update! A few new towns and neighborhoods added.

The Butte Historical Society is in the planning stage of an Ethnic/Heritage Park in uptown Butte. Below are tables containing people and places of Silver Bow County, going back to 1864. This information has been updated since the original post.

Please comment if you believe any people/places should be added!

Please consider researching your heritage and contributing to this project!

Please consider picking an ethnicity to represent on the Ethnic/Heritage Board!

Direct inquiries and suggestions to: [email protected]

05/15/2026

Anticipating construction of the Milwaukee Railroad depot on Montana Avenue, prominent Butte real estate developer John Rowe established the J. H. Rowe Addition in 1915.

04/29/2026

The Big M on Big Butte was lit permanently for the first time 64 years ago on May 2, 1962. The students of the Montana School of Mines did majority of the work to make this happen with the Anaconda Company providing most of the supplies. Governor Tim Babcock came to Butte to "throw the switch" beginning the nightly tradition of the Big M being lit up.
Smithers.72.088.18

04/29/2026

Prominent real estate developer Charles Passmore built three homes on this block in 1901, all for family members. Nephew Ellis Passmore, a coal merchant, and his wife Martha lived in this transitional…