{"id":27,"featured":0,"modified":"2026-04-17 19:40:05","latitude":46.0123564000000015994373825378715991973876953125,"longitude":-112.55704289999999900828697718679904937744140625,"title":"Montana Tech Campus","subtitle":"Butte National Historic Landmark District","fullsize":"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/f3c01929057af8456d1211ac39451ede.jpg","address":"1300 West Park Street, Montana Tech Campus, Butte, Montana","all_locations":[],"zoom":7,"creator":["Montana National Register Sign Program"],"description":"The Enabling Act of 1889 laid the foundation for the Montana School of Mines, providing for the first federal land grants for the establishment of mining schools. This landmark provision thus recognized the significance of mining industries to the newly admitted western states of Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Washington. A commission appointed by Governor J. E. Rickards to investigate establishing such a school in Montana determined that the heart of Montana’s mining industry—Butte—would be the ideal location. At the foot of Big Butte, with its sweeping view of the surrounding area rich in mineral ores, the cornerstone of Main Hall was laid in the fall of 1896. Designed by Montana’s premier architect John C. Paulsen, the splendid Renaissance Revival style building was completed in 1897, but it presided over Butte unoccupied for lack of additional funds. Thanks to the generosity of local benefactors, the school finally opened to 39 students in 1900, and the first class graduated in 1903. During the next decades, architects George Carsley, C. S. Haire, Floyd Hamill, and Walter Arnold left their marks on the campus following Paulsen’s lead. Federal assistance during the 1930s allowed expansion and extensive landscaping, which greatly enhanced the campus. The Montana School of Mines earned its excellent academic reputation partly because Butte offered unsurpassed opportunities in practical observation and firsthand mine experience, a facet of training not emphasized by other mining schools. Today, the four initial professorships have expanded to include a teaching faculty of 139, and the campus accommodates almost 2,000 students.","sponsor":null,"accessinfo":"Public","lede":"","website":"","related_resources":["Read about the Butte National Historic Landmark District","See photos of the Butte National Historic Landmark District"],"factoids":[],"files":{"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/f3c01929057af8456d1211ac39451ede.jpg":{"id":248,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Aerial view of the Montana School of Mines","description":"Aerial view of the Montana School of Mines, Butte, Montana. [circa 1956] | Montana Historical Society Research Center Photograph Archives, Helena, Montana | [circa 1956] | Photographer: Al's Photo Shop; Butte; MT","thumbnail":"https://historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/f3c01929057af8456d1211ac39451ede.jpg"},"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/9dc5c8f3a9d4f8b84b66019532797566.jpg":{"id":102,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Metallurgy building, view to Northwest","description":"Still image capture of the Mettalurgy [sic] building at the Montana School of Mines in Butte, Montana. Image information recorded on print verso. b&w print.
\r\n | Official records of the Montana State Historic Preservation Office, Helena, Montana | March 1980 | Westenberg, John","thumbnail":"https://historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/9dc5c8f3a9d4f8b84b66019532797566.jpg"},"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/d616496bfcf0234dc77199dcbda52a48.jpg":{"id":104,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Engineering Building, view to the southwest","description":"Still image capture of the Energy building at the Montana School of Mines in Butte, Montana. Image information recorded on print verso. b&w print. | Official records of the Montana State Historic Preservation Office, Helena, Montana | March 1980 | Westenberg, John","thumbnail":"https://historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/d616496bfcf0234dc77199dcbda52a48.jpg"},"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/a4d7d42588991be4c472484e6d5ffc32.jpg":{"id":105,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Gymnasium, view to northwest","description":"Still image capture of the Gymnasium building at the Montana School of Mines in Butte, Montana. Image information recorded on print verso. b&w print. | Official records of the Montana State Historic Preservation Office, Helena, Montana | March 1980 | Westenberg, John","thumbnail":"https://historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/a4d7d42588991be4c472484e6d5ffc32.jpg"},"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/b9f34007487b522a43e83ded675b4ed7.jpg":{"id":106,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Mill Building, Montana School of Mines, Butte, Montana","description":"Still image capture of Mill Building, Montana School of Mines, Butte, Montana. Looking Southwest at #2. Image information recorded on verso. b&w print. | Official records of the Montana State Historic Preservation Office, Helena, Montana | March 1980 | Westenberg, John","thumbnail":"https://historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/b9f34007487b522a43e83ded675b4ed7.jpg"},"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/054a973d9e51e63e8f13c68cc40a9cde.jpg":{"id":164,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Main Hall, Montana School of Mines, Butte, Montana","description":"Still image capture of Main Hall, Montana School of Mines, Butte, Montana. Looking Northwest at #1 . Image information recorded on verso. b&w print. | Official records of the Montana State Historic Preservation Office, Helena, Montana | March 1980 | John Westenberg","thumbnail":"https://historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/054a973d9e51e63e8f13c68cc40a9cde.jpg"},"https://historicmt.org/files/fullsize/77f2d81b91817ed39e715bdf33266893.jpg":{"id":951,"mime-type":"image/jpeg","title":"Montana Tech Campus","description":"Montana Tech Campus, view of Montana Tech entrance archway on West Park Street, facing west. | MontanaPictures.net | June 2008 | MontanaPictures.net","thumbnail":"https://historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/77f2d81b91817ed39e715bdf33266893.jpg"}}}