Entry No. 54 — the Helena file — filed under: history

Old Empire Mine

Located on the western slope of Mount Belmont in the Marysville Mining District, the Empire Mine was a major late-19th-century gold, silver, and lead producer. Established in the 1880s, the operation once featured a massive 60-stamp mill that processed rich ore from thousands of feet of underground workings. Today, the site is completely abandoned, leaving behind caved adits, hazardous tailings, and concrete foundations hidden in the forested hills.

The move: Take a scenic drive along Marysville Road to appreciate the rugged mountain scenery of the Marysville Mining District, and safely photograph the historic remnants of the area's gold rush from the public right-of-way.

📍 Before you go The mine is located on private patented mining claims and contains highly dangerous, unstable underground workings, caved adits, and hazardous open shafts.

• 📍 Old Empire Mine
• 💸 Free
• ⚡ Low-key
• 🌗 Outdoors

Where: Old Empire Mine, Montana 59640, USA

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

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: westernmininghistory.com · mtmemory.org · digitalcommons.mtech.edu · archiveswest.orbiscascade.org

last checked: 2026-07-20