The World Museum Of Mining was started in 1963 by Butte people who wanted to preserve the city's historic mining tradition. The museum and village were built entirely with volunteer labor and donations.

The World Museum of Mining rests on land once occupied by the Orphan Girl Mine, and is therefore heir to that operation's authentic 100 foot steel headframe, or 'gallows frame'.

 

The headframe, along with the Nordberg double drum hoist in the remaining engine house, allowed miners and their tools to be lowered into the 3,200 foot mine shaft in search of ore. Silver and zinc were the main ores extracted from the Orphan Girl, although the sight overlooks the area of the 1864 gold strike. Many of the tools and equipment used in underground mining can be viewed at the museum. Once an active underground mine, the Orphan Girl is now the site of the 23-acre World Museum of Mining.

 

 Hell Roarin' Gulch, an authentic reproduction of an 1890's mining camp, offers a bank, funeral parlor, jail, post office, city hall, union hall, school, church and chinese laundry. These are only a few of the more than 35 buildings you can visit. All are carefully arranged with authentic antiques from early Butte.

 

The World Museum also offers The Orphan Girl Express, a three car train pulled by a 1911 underground trammer engine.The 20-minute train ride takes patrons around the perimiter of the museum grounds, pointing out historical features.The little train runs every half hour from 10:00 AM to 5 PM, seven days a week through August.

 

The World Museum of Mining 's photo archives has one of the largest collections of Butte pictures in the world. The pictures are now available to the public to view and purchase. The black and white prints available are of people, places, mines, buildings, and events of Butte's past.

 

During the past 25 years, a small group of volunteers have catalogued and copied more than 6,000 photographs that have been donated to the World Museum of Mining. Researchers, writers, and organizations have used these photos to tell the story of Butte's rich heritage.

 

Most of the archive's photographs can be purchased. For more details visit the

web site of the World Museum of Mining at:

 

http://www.miningmuseum.org