BUTTE, Montana | Rocky Mountain Rust Belt

[gmc72]

WOW!! I have been through Butte several hundred times. It's amazing what you can see when you get further off the freeway than the gas stations. Plus we were on a 15 hour drive, so no sight seeing was ever allowed. In fact, the first few times we went through we called it "Butt, Montana".

[HHC]

Fascinating! Never pictured Montana to be anything like this.

[Tom Servo]

Whoa. Awesome!

[flar]

Great shots. There's a surprising number of brick houses for a town this far west.

[stepper77]

In terms of architecture, Butte is quite robust. Once you get out downtown, it looks like things get depressing quick. But, very solid. Thanks!

[pdxtex]

apparently all there is to do in butte is have sex, fight and get drunk, or so says my friend nick who grew up there... he's got a 7 inch knife scar down his check from when he was a bouncer. he moved to portland.....looks gritty.

[Columbusite]

The pics are nice, but I think a visit in person would leave me twiddling my thumbs after a short walk. As for the hipsters flocking here that depends on how many great dive bars are there: it sure ain't no Lawrence, Kansas.

[Thundertubs]

Thanks, folks!

Originally Posted by xzmattzx

Butte looks strangely similar to Oil City, PA, and Wheeling, WV.

I think Wheeling is a great comparison. It's like the Wheeling of the West.

Originally Posted by pallo

It looks very nice. Is this town rich or poor now? how much would a house cost there?

Definitely a low income town. I'd imagine real cheap. There were some renovations going on here and there, so it looks like it's picking up a bit, though.

Originally Posted by photoLith

Wow, I had no idea it was so gorgeous, and it looks like the city has relatively little sprawl, dont know if thats a good or bad thing.

Butte has been stagnant/shrinking since the 1930's, so there isn't a ton of new development there.

Originally Posted by Danny

I observe few trees, I suppose that it will be due to the altitude, sure.

It's not that high up, I think the relative lack of trees is due to the dryness.

Originally Posted by ue

Helena is quite the depressing little city, but has an awesome downtown.

Huh, I didn't find Helena depressing at all. I visited downtown and the east side. Seemed like a charming place. Will have the tour up in a few days.

Originally Posted by pdxtex

apparently all there is to do in butte is have sex, fight and get drunk, or so says my friend nick who grew up there...

Thanks for that.

Originally Posted by Columbusite

As for the hipsters flocking here that depends on how many great dive bars are there.

There were a LOT of dive bars (often with mini-casinos attached). I used the restroom in one with a lady bartender who was missing about 2/3 of her teeth. You wouldn't want to walk into one dressed like a bike messenger, that's for sure.

I think Butte does attract some artist/musician types from around Montana, but I don't see coastal types coming here any time soon.

[wisla_krakow]

this city must have been bustling like crazy during the 20s and 30s.
fantastic tour!

[Austinlee]

Very cute town. Great tour.










I just wish the streets were a little wider.....

[ethereal_reality]

You could land an airplane on that street.

Excellent views of Butte...thanks for posting your photos Thundertubs.

[Evo5Boise]

Been through Butte quite a few times. It most definitely is a unique and interesting city. Impressive job capturing it with your lens, though, I am surprised we saw no shots of Our Lady of the Rockies that stands above the city.

[toyota74]

Great looking town..loads of character.

[Evergrey]

Awesome job!

[kcexpress69]

I've been through Butte once, back in the early 80s..I forgot how big the downtown area was!! Although it's moderately low income with some sporadic grit, it looks like quite the city to check out!! Quite a bit of Wheeling comparisons..I was thinking myself without reading all the comments, how much it compares to an eastern city!! Nice job, Thundertubs!!

[beyondtheforest]

Butte is my favorite city.

In terms of architecture, I think it's closer to Johnstown than Wheeling, however it is more intact than both cities put together. Wheeling has a large collection of antebellum and Italianate architecture, which is mostly unheard of in Butte. Most of the structures in Butte are post-1880. I think Uniontown and Cumberland are rather similar, on a smaller scale. Unlike Wheeling, Butte has an active preservation movement, and many of the historic downtown high-rises have been adapted for new uses as apartments and lofts.

Butte Citizens for Preservation and Revitalization

[beyondtheforest]

I just thought of the rust-belt city that reminds me the most of Butte: Steubenville, Ohio.

[Buck]

All those reds, browns, blues. I'd love to see this town with my own eyes sometime soon.

[urban surfin]

Butte-e-ful

[Surrealplaces]

Saw this and couldn't help but think of Butte