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

Badger State Mine
⎯⎯⎯
The Speculator-Granite Mountain Mine
⎯⎯⎯
The Bell-Diamond Mine

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 6, 2024

1. Badger State Mine / The Speculator-Granite Mountain Mine / The Bell-Diamond Mine Marker

Inscription. Badger State Mine
(1883 - 1966)
4169 feet deepTaking the name of an animal common to the West, the Badger State was a copper-bearing mine. One of the three largest mines owned by the ACM, it was not converted to electric hoisting until 1927 when the Montana Power Company constructed the Morony Hydroelectric Generating Station at Great Falls. New electric controls allowed the utility to respond to the surges caused by hoisting.

The Speculator-Granite Mountain Mine
(1887 - 1944)
3700 feet deepSpeculators gambled with their money by investing in this mine, hence the name. Butte's second largest copper producer, “the Spec” had the best ventilation system in the district. Ironically, this same system helped drive the smoke and gas that killed 168 miners in 1917. The first electric hoist installed on “the Hill” was at the Granite Mountain in 1914. The largest in the world at the time, it could lift 200 tons per hour from a depth of 4,000 feet.

The Bell-Diamond Mine
(1882 - 1928)
3609 feet deepCalled the Diamond because its claim stakes formed a diamond shape, this mine put millions of dollars into the pocket of William A. Clark, the

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original owner, and figured prominently in his battle with Daly and Heinze over control of the Butte copper industry. The headframe at the Diamond is the oldest left standing on “the Hill.”

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Natural Resources.

Location. 46° 1.604′ N, 112° 31.42′ W. Marker is in Butte, Montana, in Silver Bow County. It can be reached from Bernie's Way just north of Alexander Street, on the right when traveling north. The marker is within the Granite Mountain Speculator Mine Memorial. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: 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

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 6, 2024

2. Badger State Mine / The Speculator-Granite Mountain Mine / The Bell-Diamond Mine Marker

The marker is mounted atop a concrete and granite pedestal on the northeast perimeter of the Granite Mountain Speculator Mine Memorial.

least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Labor History in Butte, Montana (here, next to this marker); Women of Butte (a few steps from this marker); The Bell Diamond (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Con (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Con Hoist House (approx. 0.4 miles away); Cornish of Centerville (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Irish of Centerville (approx. 0.4 miles away); Mines of Centerville (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Butte.

Also see . . .
1. Badger State Mine (Story of Butte).

(By Nancy Woodruff & Butte Historical Society) Excerpt: The Badger, like most of the works on the eastern end of the hill, was principally a copper-bearing mine. Its large deposits of zinc and lead, however, gave this mine importance during war years. Before the Berkeley Pit was excavated, dozens of other mines pierced the surrounding landscape, all of them extracting copper. Still visible at the Badger are the headframe, hoist house, and auxiliary hoist house.

(Submitted on August 22, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Granite Mountain/Speculator Mine (Speculator Mine blog).

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Excerpt: The Granite and Speculator mines were unusual because they were two seperate shafts, connected by tunnels. The connections meant both mines had a slight breeze. On a normal day the breeze helped ventilate the mine and cold the mine a few degrees. Butte’s economy was based on World War 1’s demand for copper. Four copper magnates: F. Augustus Heinze, James A. Murray, Marcus Daly, and William A Clark fought each other for control of the mineral wealth. Their immense wealth earned them the name of the Copper Kings. Because multiple companies vied for natural resources, Butte never became a company town. The pressure to mine more copper, led to tension between unions and mine companies. Mines had few if any safety provisions. America’s war footing gave the companies extra power over their workers. In the eyes of the government, the company’s smooth operation was important for the war effort.
The speculator mine disaster was a fire which asphyxiated miner and damaged supports. By the time all the miners were found, the disaster was the largest in metal mine history. The fire claimed the lives of 168 men.

(Submitted on August 22, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

3. Bell-Diamond Mine (Story of Butte).

(By Nancy Woodruff & Butte Historical Society) Excerpt: Originally owned by mining entrepreneur William Clark, this mine figured prominently in his battle with Marcus Daly and Augustus Heinze for control of the Butte copper industry. The mine was ultimately sold to the Anaconda Copper Mining Company in 1895.
The Bell mine was located about a tenth of a mile east of the Diamond headframe. Ore from the two mines was hoisted through a common shaft by 1914, leading them to be referred to jointly as the Bell-Diamond. The Bell was founded by T.C. Meader of the Montana Mining Company. The mine was acquired by the Anaconda Copper Mining Company in 1885.

(Submitted on August 22, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 22, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 22, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 6 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 22, 2026, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Badger State Mine⎯⎯⎯The Speculator-Granite Mountain Mine⎯⎯⎯The Bell-Diamond Mine

Badger State Mine
⎯⎯⎯
The Speculator-Granite Mountain Mine
⎯⎯⎯
The Bell-Diamond Mine