Entry No. 54 — the Butte file — filed under: ruins
Mountain Con Mine
Operating from 1886 to 1974, the Mountain Con Mine was the deepest copper mine on Butte Hill, plunging 5,291 feet underground. Today, the remediated mine yard is home to Foreman's Park, where the towering 1928 steel headframe still stands. Visitors can walk the paved trails to view the headframe, which is painted with its famous 'Mile High, Mile Deep' slogan, and spot the concrete foundation of the old superintendent's house.
The story
Immigrant miners whose tongues stumbled over 'Mountain Consolidated' quickly shortened it to 'Mountain Con'—or simply 'The Con.' From 1886 until 1974, crew after crew stepped into cramped iron cages to plunge straight down into hot, dark rock. Reaching 5,291 feet underground, it became the deepest mine shaft on Butte Hill. Sitting at an elevation of 6,135 feet above sea level, the mine collar was literally a mile high while its tunnels stretched nearly a full mile into the earth's crust [1.1.3].
The Anaconda Copper Mining Company acquired the site in the 1890s, extracting massive veins of copper ore to wire an electrifying nation. In 1928, they erected the 100-plus-foot riveted steel headframe that still dominates the ridge today. When underground hard-rock operations halted in 1974, crews capped the deep pit with concrete, and Atlantic Richfield later remediated the toxic mine yard into Foreman's Park. Walk along the edge of the reclaimed yard and you can still spot the concrete foundation of the old mine superintendent's house—a lingering trace of management keeping tabs on the shifts below.
What it's like
You'll park at Foreman's Park on Little Minah Street, where paved walking paths wrap around the high ridge overlooking Uptown Butte. The 1928 steel headframe—painted with its legendary 'Mile High, Mile Deep' slogan—is surrounded by a high chain-link fence, and the deep shaft beneath is permanently sealed under concrete. Local dog walkers and runners frequent the trail, but the site rarely feels crowded. Come near sunset: the wind whips hard across the exposed hilltop, the sun drops behind the headframe, and at dusk, the structure lights up red against the dark sky. Pack a windbreaker regardless of what the weather app says.
The move: Stroll along the paved Mountain Con Trail to photograph the historic 1928 steel headframe and enjoy panoramic views of Butte from the scenic overlook.
📍 Before you go The surrounding Foreman's Park and its paved walking trails are open to the public, but the historic headframe is fenced off for safety and the deep mine shaft is sealed.
- 📍 Butte
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: Mountain Con Mine, Butte, MT 59701, USA
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current access before you go.
Pair it with
- Granite Mountain / Speculator Mine Memorial — Follow the connected trail system straight from Mountain Con to this hilltop memorial honoring the 168 miners killed in the 1917 disaster.
- Butte's Lit Headframes (Gallows Frames) — Stick around after dark to watch the Mountain Con headframe glow alongside the rest of Butte's illuminated steel gallows frames across the skyline.
- Steward Mine — Head less than half a mile down the hill to inspect another massive steel headframe from Butte's underground copper era.
- Helsinki Bar (Helsinki Yacht Club) — Descend into Uptown after your walk for a drink inside a 1911 Finnish bathhouse where immigrant miners used to clean up after their shifts.
Good to know
Can you climb or go inside the Mountain Con headframe?
No. The 1928 steel structure is fenced off for safety, and the 5,291-foot mine shaft beneath is sealed with concrete. You can view and photograph it from the surrounding paved paths.
Why does the headframe say 'Mile High, Mile Deep'?
The surface collar sits at an elevation of 6,135 feet above sea level (more than a mile high), while its underground workings plunged down 5,291 feet (just shy of a mile deep).
Are there fees or hours for visiting Foreman's Park?
Foreman's Park and the paved trail system are free public parkland. Confirm local access or trail conditions before heading up.
What else can you see on the site besides the headframe?
The site features paved walking trails, scenic overlooks of Uptown Butte, historic interpretive displays, and the original concrete foundation of the mine superintendent's house.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: storyofbutte.org · montana-historic-landscapes.com
last checked: 2026-07-20