Closely grouped houses on a steep hillside, with the Lexington Mine in the background: in Walkerville, the settlement and mining history are closely intertwined. The town is considered the birthplace of mining in Butte and is part of the Butte-Anaconda Historic District. For travelers interested in mining history, the origins of a mining camp and the region’s industrial development take center stage here.
From the Alice to the Lexington Mine
Walkerville was established in 1876, after the Walker brothers acquired the Alice. They dominated the Walkerville mining camp. The Alice was one of the most productive silver mines on the Hill. Another turning point in the town’s history followed in 1878: the first strike in the Butte area took place in Walkerville. The town’s founding, silver mining, and labor history thus offer different ways to explore its development.
The Lexington Mine was also among the silver mines that made Butte a major silver producer from the late 1870s through the 1880s. In 1881, the Lexington Mining Company built a 50-stamp mill and roasting furnaces next to its mine in Walkerville. These details draw attention not only to extraction but also to the processing methods of the time. A steel headframe remains above the shaft of the Lexington Mine. Check the headframe’s current condition before visiting.
Homes and the historic streetscape
Walkerville includes the oldest homes within the Butte-Anaconda National Historic Landmark District and some of the district’s best-preserved miners’ houses. Many buildings on Main Street date from the 1870s and 1880s. The houses are closely grouped on a steep hillside, with the Lexington Mine in the background. This brings the residential settlement and mining into view as two sides of the town’s history. For architecture enthusiasts, the homes offer a distinct focus alongside the mines and industrial history.
Historic District and tours
The Butte-Anaconda Historic District includes Walkerville, Butte, and Anaconda, as well as the Butte, Anaconda & Pacific Railroad. Walkerville is therefore a town in its own right within a larger historic district. A National Park Service page, last updated on November 2, 2020, describes guided and self-guided tours of the district. Visitors can see historic architecture and inactive copper mines. Check current tour arrangements before your trip.
Plan your routes and travel
Montana’s Copperway Trails run through Walkerville and connect historic preservation sites in Walkerville and Butte. They are part of a network of non-motorized trails linking various cultural sites. Trail conditions can change; check them before setting out.
The Purple Route runs to Walkerville every 60 minutes, Monday through Friday. If you plan to use this service to get there, check the schedule for your travel day, as schedules and frequency can change. This helps you distinguish the route as described from the service available on a specific travel day.
Walkerville as a place to stay
When searching for a vacation rental, Walkerville is a focused choice if you want to include the miners’ houses, early strike history, and the Lexington Mine in your travel plans. If you also want your stay to cover other parts of the Historic District, consider Butte and Anaconda as separate destinations. This way, you can tailor your search to the place that suits your interests rather than treating the district’s name as a single destination.
Explore more destinations: Butte
Back to the main travel overview: Silver Bow.
