Page 574 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

572  THE ROCKIES

y Great Falls virgin stretches, a route converted into B&B inns.
paralleled by a bike trail and The centerpiece of Helena is
* 59,400. k @ n 15 Overlook
Drive, (406) 771-0885. ∑ greatfalls driving tour along US 87. The the copper-domed Montana
mt.net route ends at Fort Benton, State Capitol, decorated with
historic head of navigation on several fine historical murals,
Nestling picturesquely between the Missouri River. including one of explorers Lewis
the majestic Rocky Mountains and Clark painted by Charlie
to the west and Little Belt E Charles M. Russell Museum Russell. A statue in the grounds
Mountains to the east, this rural 400 13th St N. Tel (406) 727-8787. portrays Helena resident Jeanette
city owes its name to its Open Jun–: 10am–5pm Tue–Sun; Rankin, who in 1917 was the
location along the Missouri Nov–May: 10am–5pm Wed–Sun. first woman to be elected to
River. As the river cuts through Closed Jan 1, Easter, Thanksgiving, the United States Congress.
the city, it drops over 500 ft Dec 25. & 7 = ∑ cmrussell.org
(152 m) in a series of rapids and E Lewis and Clark National
five breathtaking waterfalls, first Historic Trail Interpretive Center i Butte
noted by explorers Lewis and 4201 Giant Springs Rd. Tel (406) 727- * 34,000. ~ @ n 1000 George
Clark (see p561–2) in 1805. 8733. Open Memorial Day–Sep: St, (406) 723-3177, (800) 735-6814.
The city is best known for 9am–6pm daily; Oct–Memorial Day: ∑ visitmt.com/places-to-go/cities-
its two excellent museums. 9am–5pm Tue–Sat, noon–5pm Sun. and-towns/butte.html
One, the Charles M. Russell Closed Jan 1, Thanksgiving, Dec 25.
Museum, traces the history of & 7 ∑ fs.usda.gov/lcnf Located in the heart of the Rocky
the American West, focusing Mountains, Butte is named for
on the life and work of resident the prominent conical hill, Big
cowboy and prolific Wild West u Helena Butte, which guards its north-
artist “Charlie” Russell, who * 29,600. ~ @ n 225 west corner. That Butte has
gave the city much of its Cruse Ave, (406) 442-4120. some of the world’s richest
cultural flavor. His home and ∑ helenamt.com mineral reserves is evident
log cabin studio are next to the by the extensive signs of
expansive museum. The state capital, Helena the gold, silver, and
On a bluff overlooking the makes a fine base for copper mining industry
Missouri River, 2 miles (3 km) exploring Montana. that thrived here from the
northeast of downtown, is Originally known as “Last 1870s through the first
the Lewis and Clark National Chance Gulch,” Helena half of the 20th century.
Historic Trail Interpretive was founded as a gold- Glimpses of Butte’s
Center, which details the epic mining camp in the multiethnic, immigrant
explorations of the Corps of 1860s. Fortunately much culture are also visible
Discovery, the cross-country of the wealth generated in such events as the
expedition led by Meriwether here remained, as is St. Patrick’s Day celebra-
Lewis and William Clark from evident from the Statue of Jeanette tion by the town’s Irish
1803 to 1806. number of mansions Rankin, Montana Catholic population.
For 45 miles (72 km) down- built by mining State Capitol One of Butte’s many
stream from the center, the millionaires. Many of fine museums, the
Missouri River runs as a “Wild these exuberantly designed World Museum of Mining
and Scenic” river on one of its Victorian-era homes have been occupies the site of an early
gold mine. Its superb collection
of mineral specimens, mining
machinery, and mementos
of the town’s proud industrial
heritage also includes displays
on Butte’s leading role in the
development of mine-workers’
unions. Outside, some 30
historic buildings dating from
1880 to 1910 re-create an
early mining camp, complete
with a church, a schoolhouse,
bordellos, and boardinghouses.
Sites such as the Granite
Mountain Mine Memorial
commemorate the 168 men
killed in a 1917 mine disaster.
High above the city, the 90-ft
(27-m) statue of “Our Lady
Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Interpretive Center, Great Falls of the Rockies” stands as a
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp592–3 and pp594–5

572-573_EW_USA.indd 572 11/2/16 2:48 PM
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
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Date 1st October 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm