Entry No. 49 — the Butte file — filed under: ruins

Bell-Diamond Mine

Erected in 1898, the steel headframe of the Diamond Mine is the oldest still standing on Butte Hill, once a prominent battleground in the copper wars between industrial titans William Clark and Marcus Daly. The underground workings reached a depth of over 3,600 feet before operations ceased, and the site was later devastated by a surface explosion in 1962. Today, the towering 100-foot-tall 'gallows frame' and scattered sheave wheels remain as a stark monument overlooking the Berkeley Pit.

The move: Take a scenic walk along the nearby Mountain Con trail or drive up to the Granite Mountain Memorial to photograph the historic headframe silhouetted against the Montana sky at sunset.

📍 Before you go The mine yard and headframe are located on fenced private property with no public access due to safety hazards and unreclaimed mine waste, but the structure is highly visible from nearby public roads and walking trails.

• 📍 Butte
• 💸 Free
• ⚡ Low-key
• 🌗 Outdoors

Where: Diamond Mine, Butte, MT 59701, USA

Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current access before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: storyofbutte.org · 955kmbr.com

last checked: 2026-07-20