BUTTE, HELENA, AND SOUTHWEST MONTANA - Montana and Wyoming - page 314

tiques store, but more of an antique, Whitehead's Cutlery (73 E. Park St., 406/723-9188,
www.whiteheadscutlery.com ) was founded in 1890 and is considered to be the oldest con-
tinuously operated family-owned small business in the state. Its founder, Joseph Whitehead,
made his living by traveling to mining camps in the region selling and sharpening knives.
His first grinder in Butte was powered by a St. Bernard dog that ran on a treadmill to power
the wheel. While his own line of products expanded from knives to include straight razors,
barber supplies, hockey and figure skates, Joseph's son Edward collected knives and swords
from around the world. The impressive collection is on display and worth a visit.
If you lack space in your suitcase for antique treasures, and have a taste for spirits,
stop into Headframe Spirits (21 Montana St., 406/299-2886, www.headframespirits.com ,
10am-8pm Mon.-Sat., noon-5pm Sun.), founded in 2010 but steeped in Butte history, where
you can sip and sample their Neversweat Bourbon Whiskey, Destroying Angel Whiskey,
Anselmo Gin, High Ore Vodka, and Orphan Girl Bourbon Cream Liquor. Tours of the dis-
tillery can be arranged, or you can just relax with a cocktail in the tasting room. It's really
quite a fitting way to spend an afternoon in Butte.
RECREATION
United States High Altitude Sports Center
A unique facility that has an outdoor speed-skating rink and a training facility for Olympic
athletes from all over the world, the United States High Altitude Sports Center (1
Olympic Way, 406/494-7570, free) hosts various competitions and is open to the public.
Stodden Park
During Butte's mining heyday, the only greenery in town could be found at the beloved
Columbia Gardens, which sadly burned down. Today there is plenty of green space in town,
and Stodden Park (Sampson St. and Utah St., 406/494-3686) tops the list with a swimming
pool, tennis courts, and a nine-hole golf course.
Hiking and Bouldering
Hikers and climbers driving into Butte from the east over Homestake Pass might get tingly
as they see the hoodoos scattered across the terrain. A wonderful and quite similar place to
explore, without the distraction of highway traffic, is the Humbug Spires region, 26 miles
south of Butte in the Humbug Spires recommended wilderness area. This is primitive Bur-
eau of Land Management land that has granite outcroppings, for which the area is named, in
addition to primeval Douglas fir forest and a small stream chock-full of little cutthroat trout.