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

Metals Bank Building

Butte National Historic Landmark District

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 12, 2021

1. Metals Bank Building Marker

Inscription. The strength of Butte’s early financial community is well represented in this monumental steel, brick, and stone skyscraper completed in 1906. Copper king F. Augustus Heinze financed the $325,000 bank building, incorporating the newest steel-frame and curtain-wall construction techniques. Nationally renowned architect Cass Gilbert 1859-1934 drew the blueprints and Montana architects Link and Haire supervised the local work. Gilbert’s best known work is New York City’s sixty-story Woolworth Building 1913 and the U.S. Supreme Court Building in Washington, D.C. 1932-1935. One of Montana’s first skyscrapers, the Metals’ eight floors add significantly to Butte’s urban skyline. A copper-trimmed entry complements the gray stone. Above, brick walls and stone arches culminate at the sixth floor. Ornate wrought iron balconies punctuate the second and seventh floors. An open wrought-iron staircase carries this element inside, where copper-trimmed windows with African mahogany frames and a marble-walled elevator lobby reflect 1906 Butte’s wealth. A huge polished steel bank vault recalls the building’s first use.

Erected by Montana

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Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Montana National Register Sign Program series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1906.

Location. 46° 0.764′ N, 112° 32.152′ W. Marker is in Butte, Montana, in Silver Bow County. It is at the intersection of West Park Street and South Main Street, on the left when traveling west on West Park Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8 West Park 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: Walker's (a few steps

Metals Bank Building and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 12, 2021

2. Metals Bank Building and Marker

The marker is at the corner of the building below the turn-signal.

from this marker); Curtis Music Hall (within shouting distance of this marker); Rookwood Hotel (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Butte Daily Post Building (about 300 feet away); Thomas Block (about 300 feet away); Owsley Block (about 300 feet away); Mantle Block (about 400 feet away); Pekin Noodle Parlor (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Butte.

Metals Bank Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 12, 2021

3. Metals Bank Building

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 12, 2021

4. Metals Bank Building

Credits. This page was last revised on November 4, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 5, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 838 times since then and 91 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 5, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 4. submitted on November 6, 2021, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.