Butte in Silver Bow County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)

Thornton Block

Butte National Historic Landmark District

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 12, 2021

1. Thornton Block Marker

Inscription. Beautifully detailed and thoroughly cosmopolitan, this $75,000 five-story hotel opened in 1901 featuring over one hundred rooms, a saloon, restaurant, barber shop, and bowling alley. A cast-iron and glass entrance canopy, stone balconies, Tudor arches, and decorative carving highlight the elegant exterior. Turn-of-the-twentieth-century hotel patrons, no doubt impressed with Butte’s metropolitan character, could even take an electric street railway direct to Sutton’s Broadway Theater. After 1947, the Thornton Block served for many years as a club for Anaconda Copper Mining Company employees.

Erected by Montana Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Entertainment • Industry & Commerce • Sports. In addition, it is included in the Montana National Register Sign Program series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1901.

Location. 46° 0.838′ N, 112° 32.031′ W. Marker is in Butte, Montana, in Silver Bow County. It is on East Broadway Street near North Wyoming Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 65 East Broadway Street, Butte MT 59701, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in andspecifically outhwest Montana, in Gold West Country, in Mining Country. It is also in the American Mountain West

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker

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: Thornton Hotel (within shouting distance of this marker); Forbis Block (within shouting distance of this marker); Finlen Hotel (within shouting distance of this marker); Salvation Army Building (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); City Hall (about 300 feet away); Kelly Block (about 300 feet away); E.B. Craney (about 300 feet away); The Napton (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Butte.

Thornton Block and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 12, 2021

2. Thornton Block and Marker

The marker is at the right corner of the building.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 10, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 14, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 292 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 14, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.