Entry No. 56 — the Helena file — filed under: ruins
Diamond Mine
Erected in 1898, the steel headframe of the Diamond Mine (often called the Bell-Diamond) is the oldest surviving headframe on Butte Hill. The underground copper mine once reached a depth of over 3,600 feet before operations ceased in 1958. Today, the iconic 100-foot-tall 'gallus frame' and its sealed shaft remain as a stark monument overlooking the city and the nearby Berkeley Pit.
The story
Don't let the name fool you into looking for sparklers—the Diamond Mine (frequently known around town as the Bell-Diamond) was strictly in the business of copper. Erected back in 1898, its 100-foot steel headframe holds a specific distinction on Butte Hill: it is the single oldest surviving headframe standing in the district. Beneath that iron skeleton lies a sealed shaft that once dropped miners straight down more than 3,600 feet into the dark.
Structures like this were dubbed "gallus frames" by local crews—a grim play on "gallows" thanks to their resemblance to the gallows drop mechanisms—holding the massive pulleys that lowered men into stifling underground heat and hauled tons of rock back up. When underground operations wrapped up in 1958, many surrounding yards were dismantled or swallowed by open-pit mining, but the Diamond survived, left standing as a stark monument overlooking the city and the vast expanse of the neighboring Berkeley Pit.
What it's like
You won't be stepping inside or clambering up the steel. The headframe and surrounding mine yard sit firmly on private property behind security fencing, so keep your visit strictly outside the line. The play here is a slow drive or walk up the public roads along Butte Hill. Pull off safely along the street to photograph the century-old steel against the skyline, taking in the raw industrial view of the sealed shaft and the nearby Berkeley Pit before following the road up to the Granite Mountain Speculator Mine Memorial for a full view of the valley.
The move: Take a scenic drive or walk up Butte Hill to photograph the historic 100-foot-tall steel headframe from a safe distance, then head to the nearby Granite Mountain Speculator Mine Memorial to take in the sweeping views of the valley.
📍 Before you go The headframe and surrounding mine yard are fenced off on private property with no public access, but the massive structure is easily visible and photogenic from nearby public roads.
- 📍 Butte
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: Diamond Mine, Butte, MT 59701, USA
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current access before you go.
Pair it with
- Kelley Mine Yard — Compare Butte's oldest surviving headframe at the Diamond with the hill's tallest headframe, situated less than a half-mile away.
- Mountain Consolidated Mine — Pair two legendary underground copper giants by heading four-tenths of a mile over to 'The Con.'
- Uptown Crystals & Wellness Shoppe — Head downhill into historic uptown Butte to trade raw industrial copper history for polished minerals and crystals.
Good to know
Can you go inside the mine yard or climb the headframe?
No. The headframe and immediate yard are fenced off on private property with no public access permitted.
Where can you see the structure from?
The 100-foot steel frame is prominently visible from nearby public roads on Butte Hill.
How deep did the Diamond Mine reach?
Before operations shut down permanently in 1958, the underground workings reached a depth of over 3,600 feet.
What was actually mined at the Diamond Mine?
Despite the gem-like name, it was an underground copper mine.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: storyofbutte.org
last checked: 2026-07-20