Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
easily afford to import all the material for the house's construction as well as the European
craftsmen needed to do the work. The cost to construct the mansion is estimated at around
$500,000, which represents one-half day's wages for Clark at the peak of his career. His
personal fortune is thought to have exceeded $50 million by 1900. Each room has a fresco
painted on its ceiling by artists personally commissioned by Clark. There is elaborate wood-
work throughout the house, including the fireplaces, bookcases, and stairways. Tiffany
stained-glass windows and magnificent chandeliers enhance the elegance. It is an exquisite
way to truly appreciate the wealth in this city around the turn of the century.
The Clark Chateau Museum
W. A. Clark's son, Charles, also commissioned a house in 1898. The
Clark Chateau Mu-
seum
(321 W. Broadway, 406/723-7600,
www.bsbarts.org
, 11am-4pm Fri.-Mon. summer,
by appointment fall-spring, $4 adults, $3 seniors, $2 children) is a replica of a chateau
Charles had admired in France. Today the house is a period museum and Butte's community
arts center. Up the gorgeous spiral staircase to the 2nd and 3rd floors is the museum's per-
manent collection, dedicated to showcasing the diverse cultural and ethnic heritage of the
city. There are also two galleries with current shows, and the exhibits change every six
weeks. Tours are available of the house itself (when funding permits and volunteers are
available), which is impressive in its architecture, design, and art. Because the museum is
staffed by volunteers, it's best to call ahead to confirm their hours on any given day.
Dumas Brothel Museum
Butte also happens to be home to “America's longest-running house of prostitution.” The
Dumas Brothel was the center of Butte's red-light district back in its mining heyday.
Opened in 1890, it only closed its doors in 1982. The brothel reopened as the
Dumas
Brothel Museum
(45 E. Mercury St., 406/494-6908,
www.thedumasbrothel.com
,
tours
11am-4pm Tues.-Sat., by appointment Sun.-Mon. Memorial Day-Labor Day, groups of 4
or more by appointment Labor Day-Memorial Day), allowing visitors to get a glimpse in-
to the seedier side of the city's history. At its height, the brothel used all 43 rooms and
was open 24 hours a day to cater to the miners, who worked around the clock. There were
even underground tunnels that led to other downtown buildings, providing secret entry for
some of their more distinguished clientele. Since the building was actually built to serve as
a brothel, it has some unique design elements, including windows lining the hallway. The
rooms themselves, known as “cribs,” are small enough to hold a bed and not much more.
Naturally, the brothel is rife with ghost stories, including the tale of Madame Elenor Knott,
who agreed to run away with her married lover in 1955. When he didn't show up for their
