Butte Museums - Student Life

Science Mine Discovery Center

The Science Mine is a hands-on science discovery center serving Butte and Southwest Montana.

The mission of the Science Mine is to provide a family fun environment to make, learn, invent, craft, recycle, build, think, play and be inspired by celebrating arts, crafts, engineering, science, and technology in our community. Our goal is to encourage scientific literacy for all people by exploiting our natural inquisitiveness and love of play.

Located in the historic Sears Building, in the heart of Uptown Butte, the Science Mine provides hands-on, interactive exhibits that allow visitors, particularly children, to not only learn about scientific principles but to think critically and ask “what happens if”. What happens if I changed the length of the pendulum cord? What will be the effect if I spin the wheel faster; will the electrical current increase or decrease?

World Museum of Mining

The World Museum of Mining preserves a segment of American history which has heretofore been neglected. Chartered in 1964 as a non-profit educational corporation, the Museum first opened its doors in July 1965.

A faithful re-creation of an 1890s mining town, with 15 intact historic structures and approximately 35 buildings constructed from old materials by the many volunteers who put the museum together from the mid-1960s to the 1980s.

66 major exhibits with dozens of smaller items give you a feel for the kinds of equipment that were used in mining from the 1860s to the 1970s.

Learn about the history of the Orphan Girl Mine and the original structures still visible, including the 100-foot-tall headframe and the Hoist House, which houses exhibits as well as original equipment.

The underground exhibit is a re-creation of a big part of a miner’s life that will leave you smiling and shaking your head in amazement!

Mineral Museum

Located on the Montana Tech campus the Mineral Museum has the finest examples of rock and mineral occurrences from Montana, the world, and even outer space may be seen. The museum originated as a teaching collection of ~200 specimens acquired in 1901, The museum has over 13,000 specimens, 1000 that are currently on display, a gift shop, and several exhibits that describe Montana's geology, earthquake activity, and local mining history.

Mai Wah Museum

Mai Wah Museum mission is to document the history of Asian people in the Rocky Mountains. The museum is housed in the Wah Chong Tai building and Mai Wah Noodle Parlor building at 17 West Mercury Street.

The Mai Wah Society was established for educational, charitable, and scientific purposes, including research and public education about the history, culture, and conditions of Asian people in the Rocky Mountain West. The Society collects and preserves artifacts, preserves historic buildings and sites, presents public exhibits, and supports research and publication of materials of scholarly and general interest.

Learn more about the Mai Wah Museum.

Piccadilly Transportation Memorabilia Museum

The Piccadilly Museum celebrates and preserves the golden age of motoring through its collections of memorabilia. The Piccadilly Museum is the public showcase for a large collection of transportation memorabilia gathered over 25 years by several individuals who have traveled to more than 100 countries around the world.

The museum includes extensive and sometimes exotic exhibits of highway and subway markers, license plates, vintage cars, advertising art, and assorted petroliana from around the world.

Learn more about the Piccadilly Transportaiont Memorabilia Museum.

Copper King Mansion

The Copper King Mansion, was one of the homes owned by William Andrews Clark, one of Montana's three famous copper kings. It is a 34-room residence of Romanesque Revival Victorian architecture that was built from 1884 to 1888. The Copper King Mansion has been privately owned and operated since 1953. The home underwent restoration in 2012 and is now operated as a bed and breakfast. Guided tours are also available. The home features fresco painted ceilings, elegant parquet floors of rare imported wood, gas and electric chandeliers, ornate hand-carved fireplaces and stairways, and stained-glass windows.

Learn more about the Copper King Mansion.