Example Article for Montana Roadtrip
Road Trip Around Montana – Butte Copper King Mansion
 | Author:
Brenda Phillips
Brenda Phillips: MT43 News Office Administrator |
Butte Copper King Mansion
Brenda Phillips
There is so much to see in Butte that we went back to visit another historic site. The Copper King Mansion has walk-in tours from May 1st - September 30th at 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. The tour takes approximately one hour and is truly exceptional. The Mansion operates as a Bed and Breakfast also.
The Copper King Mansion was built by William A. Clark, who was among the most powerful, richest and influential people in the late 1800s and early 1900s. He made a fortune with smelters, electric power companies, newspapers, railroads and mining. He settled in Butte, Montana and is known as one of the three "Copper Kings".
W. A. Clark began construction on the mansion in 1884 and it was completed in 1888. Most of the materials for the home were imported at a cost of around $260,000. The majority of the home is in its original condition from 1888. You will see frescoed ceilings, stained glass windows, and hand-combed plaster walls. He had gas & electric chandeliers installed in the mansion even before there was electricity available in Butte. There were 9 different imported woods used in the flooring, 9 fireplace mantels and other accents and trim in this home.
William Andrews Clark was born in 1839 in Pennsylvania. He worked on his father's farm until 14, then he went to the Laurel Hill Academy and attended two years of law school. He taught school in Missouri from 1859 to 1860. In 1862, he headed to Colorado with a small grubstake. He heard of a gold strike in Bannack so he moved north to the Montana Territory with a friend and together they staked a claim on Jefferson Davis Gulch near Bannack. They worked the claim for two years and sold it for $1,500.
Clark decided that he was better at helping miners manage their findings than he was at being a miner. He bought a wagon team and traveled to Salt Lake City, and began hauling supplies to the mining camps. He also began recording claims for miners and making loans based on their claims. His wealth quickly grew through his many mining and banking ventures. At one point his income was recorded at about $17 million dollars a month. By 1900, his personal fortune was estimated at $50,000,000 and he was considered one of the wealthiest men in the world. His mining business started by foreclosing on silver mines. He went to the Columbia School of Mines in New York for a year to better understand mining. He built the first smelter and stamp mill, established the water company, the first commercial electric light company and an electric railway in Butte.
He built Butte’s beloved Columbia Gardens, a 68-acre playground and amusement park. Clark had mansions in New York, Santa Barbara, California, and Washington, DC and Paris, France. The Mansion in Butte was the smallest.
He lived with his wife, Katherine, and six kids in a one-room house until the mansion was complete. None of his 6 kids lived in the mansion, as they were all adults by the time he finished the mansion. In 1901, Clark married Anna LaChapelle and they had two daughters. Clark had a passion for collecting European art. His art collection is in the Corcoran Art Gallery in Washington, DC.
Clark was a MT US Senator from 1901 to 1907. I found it interesting that he owned newspapers in Butte, Great Falls and Salt Lake City. He owned the biggest sugar plantation in CA, an oil company in Long Beach CA, a copper wire company in New Jersey and Bronze company in New York City. He personally financed an 1100-mile railroad to haul products from his personal businesses. He owned land in southern NV that he later sold and it later became Las Vegas – which is in Clark County NV.
That same day we also took in some of the Butte Folk Festival music and enjoyed the experience of the Historic Pekin Noodle parlor. There is so much history in Butte, that we will be going back – Stay tuned for more Butte adventures.
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PhotoCredit: Brenda Phillips
Image 1 Caption: Copper King Mansion Butte
Photo Credits: Brenda Phillips
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Image 2 Caption: Sitting room fireplace with a picture of William Clark. Notice the beautiful flooring!
Photo Credits: Brenda Phillips
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Image 3 Caption: Stained glass window in stairwell
Photo Credits: Brenda Phillips
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Image 4 Caption: Diamond dust mirror 5 ' x 10" with 500 lb wooden frame
Photo Credits: Brenda Phillips
Image 5 Caption: Formal Dining room table set for dinner for the B & B guests
Photo Credits: Brenda Phillips
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