Blogs from Butte, Montana, United States, North America

Today's route took us to Tower Rock, site of a Lewis and Clark camp on August 21 1805. From here they investigated the Salmon River but realized that it was not usable as a way west because of steep surrounding cliffs and dangerous rapids. They proceeded on up the Missouri's main channel. Near present day Three Forks MT they came to what they called the headwaters of the Missouri, where the river was formed by the junction of two rivers with a third coming in less than a mile downstream. They named the rivers the Jefferson, the Madison, and the Gallatin, after members of the president's cabinet. The ascertainment of a river's source or headwaters is not a particularly exact science. In common usage, the river's source is that point most distant upstream from the river's ... read more

FRANK H. LITTLE In earlier times the copper mining community of Butte, MT was strictly a union town. Every single job there was supported by a union, including the newsboys and the industrious and beloved sisterhood of brothel workers. The Anaconda Mining Company pretty much controlled all of the unions using methods that were sometimes heavy handed. On June 8, 1917 a fire broke out in the Granite Mountain Shaft that quickly spread to the Speculator Shaft through a connecting vent. To contain the fire both shafts were sealed and 168 miners died of asphyxiation due to the fumes. The fire caused a mighty ruckus among the unions at a time when the country had just entered WWI. Young men, including miners, were being drafted into the army, and copper production had become crucial to the ... read more

Spent time at the Museum of Rockies, dinosaur bones dug up in and around Montana. There were also an exhibit on Pompeii artifacts. very nice place to visit on the University campus. Ate at the Pickle Barrel sandwich shop just off campus, very much like a collage atmosphere. Large sandwiches and busy, I would recommend it for a second round if I lived in Butte.... read more

blog 08-06-15 Beaverhead Rock I decided last night that I would travel south of here still on the Lewis and Clark trail to see Beaverhead Rock. The Corp of Discovery was looking for the Shoshone Indians in the hope that the Indians would trade with them so the expedition could have horses to go over the mountains. At 3 Forks Lewis and Clark went up the Jefferson River, taking a gamble that it would lead them to the Rockies. The river became harder to navigate and the men had to drag the boats a good part of the way, resulting in very sore and swollen feet for all the men. Clark was suffering from a sore, infected leg and Drouillard (the main hunter for the corp) was injured from a bad fall. They camped in the ... read more

Livingston to Butte I finally have this traveling thing figured out. You get up late and have a leisurely morning, pack up and drive to your next destination, no more than 3 hours, set up, get the lay of the land, break out your lounge chair and read all the brochures while having a cocktail. Can't believe it's taken me this long to get it! I arrived in Butte about 1:30 pm and had plenty of time to go to the visitors center which is within walking distance of the campground. I'm staying in another KOA and it is very pleasant. They have a nice store, a chicken shack that serves fish or chicken with fries and assorted sides. They have beer and wine for sale along with the usual sodas and juices.They even have tables ... read more