People who pass through Butte, Montana tend to assume it’s just another classic mid-sized town that could be anywhere in the USA. But this historic city is anything but ordinary—it’s got a fascinating history, a natural phenomenon and a sordid past. Dig below the surface and you’ll find that Butte is really a pretty interesting place.

For starters, it has an actual brothel museum.

PJB999 / TripAdvisor The Dumas Brothel Museum is located in the heart of the old Red Light District. Built on 1890 to serve the needs of the mining community, it operated until 1982, making it America’s longest running brothel.

It also has an incredibly rich mining history documented at a museum with mine tours.

Kathy W / TripAdvisor At the World Museum of Mining, you can still go underground.

Butte is home to Montana’s oldest restaurant, with an interesting history of its own.

ramsbee / Flickr The Pekin Noodle Parlor opened over 100 years ago, and today it is still owned by the same family. The basement was once used as a casino, leading to rumors that it was a brothel and fueling other rumors about illegal activities in the tunnels under Butte that were meant to keep the Chinese immigrants safe from harm.

Have we mentioned the notorious Berkeley Pit?

TravelingOtter / Flickr The Berkeley Pit is a former open pit copper mine located in Butte. It’s filled with water that is heavily acidic, laden with heavy metals, rich with dangerous chemicals, and dangerous to birds. Still, some people are fascinated by it, and they have a safe viewing area for anyone who wants to see it.

Famous daredevil Evel Knievel was born in Butte, and every year the city hosts Evel Knievel Days.

littlefishyjes / Flickr Over 50,000 people attend the festival.

Butte also has a HUGE St. Patrick’s Day party every year.

The annual St. Patrick’s Day festivities in Butte, MT Facebook It’s actually one of the largest celebrations of its kind in the country.

This might look like an ordinary town, but it’s actually anything but.

Ken Lund / Flickr

Butte is definitely on the must-see list for anyone with an interest in exploring Montana. If you’re feeling ambitious, you could work it into our small towns road trip.

PJB999 / TripAdvisor

The Dumas Brothel Museum is located in the heart of the old Red Light District. Built on 1890 to serve the needs of the mining community, it operated until 1982, making it America’s longest running brothel.

Kathy W / TripAdvisor

At the World Museum of Mining, you can still go underground.

ramsbee / Flickr

The Pekin Noodle Parlor opened over 100 years ago, and today it is still owned by the same family. The basement was once used as a casino, leading to rumors that it was a brothel and fueling other rumors about illegal activities in the tunnels under Butte that were meant to keep the Chinese immigrants safe from harm.

TravelingOtter / Flickr

The Berkeley Pit is a former open pit copper mine located in Butte. It’s filled with water that is heavily acidic, laden with heavy metals, rich with dangerous chemicals, and dangerous to birds. Still, some people are fascinated by it, and they have a safe viewing area for anyone who wants to see it.

littlefishyjes / Flickr

Over 50,000 people attend the festival.

The annual St. Patrick’s Day festivities in Butte, MT Facebook

It’s actually one of the largest celebrations of its kind in the country.

Ken Lund / Flickr

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