One of our absolute favorite things to do when we are out riding around is to find roadside oddities and attractions. We have been known to make many a U-turn while driving down the road. This page will be dedicated to any roadside attractions we have found in the state of Montana.
It will be a constant work in progress as we will add new oddities and attractions every time we find one. Make sure you check back often for new updates. Better yet, subscribe to my site so you will be informed each time content is added. Don’t worry, no spam here. I only send out emails once a week, usually on Fridays. Subscribe Here
Auditor The Dog
Location: Butte-Silver Bowe Chamber Of Commerce (1000 George St)
City: Butte
Region of State Located: Southwest
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Located inside the Butte-Silver Bow Chamber of Commerce, the bronze statue of Auditor the Dog commemorates one of Montana’s most heartwarming and gritty urban legends. Auditor was a shaggy, stray terrier-mix who appeared at the Berkeley Pit, a massive former open-pit copper mine, in the mid-1980s and lived there for nearly 20 years.
This memorial honors a dog that became a symbol of resilience for the people of Butte, surviving in a harsh, industrial environment where few things could.
A “Good Luck” Stop: Today, travelers often stop by the Chamber of Commerce to see the likeness of the “Pit Dog” and learn about Butte’s unique mining heritage.
The “Mine Dog” Legend: Auditor earned his name because he would appear unexpectedly during mining audits. He famously refused most human contact, living a solitary life among the machinery and rocky ledges of the pit.
Survival Against the Odds: Despite the toxic environment of the Berkeley Pit at the time, Auditor thrived, aided by miners who looked out for him by providing food, water, and even insulated “dog houses” tucked into the mining equipment.
Symbol of Butte Pride: After his passing in 2003, the community raised funds for this bronze statue to ensure his spirit of independence and survival would never be forgotten.
Berkeley Pit/Lake Of Death
Location: 300 Continental Dr
City: Butte
Region of State Located In: Western/South
Google Maps Pin
One of Montana’s most massive and complex industrial sites, the Berkeley Pit Viewing Stand offers a direct look into a mile-wide, 1,700-foot-deep former copper mine. Once known as the “Richest Hill on Earth,” the pit is now a colossal reservoir of deep, metallic-red water, serving as a powerful visual of Butte’s mining history and modern environmental reclamation efforts.
Educational Exhibits: The tunnel walkway to the viewing stand features historical photos and placards that explain the transition from underground mining to open-pit mining and the current cleanup technology.
Industrial Scale: The viewing stand provides a perspective on the sheer volume of earth moved during its operation from 1955 to 1982, when over 1 billion tons of material were excavated.
Toxic Beauty: The water is heavily acidic and laden with dissolved metals like copper and iron, which creates the striking, but hazardous, vibrant colors that shift from deep red to dark green.
Ongoing Management: You can see evidence of active water treatment; the site is home to one of the world’s largest water-pumping and treatment systems designed to keep the pit water from reaching the local groundwater.
Cost to enter is $3
Click The Link Below To Check Out My Short Video On YouTube Of Berkeley Pit
Berkeley Pit
Evil Knievel Grave
Location: Mountain View Cemetery
City: Butte
Region Of State Located In: Western/South
Google Maps Pin
Located in the Mountain View Cemetery in his hometown of Butte, the Grave of Evel Knievel is a final resting place that is as bold as the man himself. This site draws fans from all over the world who come to pay their respects to the legendary daredevil who famously said he “didn’t want to be a bystander.”
Peaceful Setting: The cemetery itself offers a serene environment with expansive views of the surrounding Montana mountains, providing a quiet contrast to the roar of the engines that defined his life.
Distinctive Headstone: The grave is marked by a large, upright headstone featuring a graphic of Knievel in his iconic star-spangled jumpsuit, complete with his signature cape and a motorcycle.
Hometown Hero: The choice of burial in Butte highlights his deep connection to the community, which still celebrates “Evel Knievel Days” every summer.
Fan Tributes: It is common to find small tokens left by visitors, such as toy motorcycles, American flags, and flowers, reflecting the lasting impact of his high-flying career.
Click Button below to see 4 more photos on Google Photos.
Frank Little Grave
Location: Mountain View Cemetery
City: Butte
Region of State Located In: Western/South
Google Maps Pin
Located in the same Mountain View Cemetery where Evel Knievel rests, the Grave of Frank Little serves as a somber monument to one of the most significant and tragic figures in American labor history. Little was a tireless organizer for the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) who came to Butte in 1917 to support striking copper miners, only to be kidnapped and lynched.
His final resting place remains a site of pilgrimage for labor activists and history buffs, standing as a stark reminder of the violent struggles that shaped the mining industry in the West.
Historical Context: Unlike the flashier memorial for Evel Knievel, this grave is a quiet, reflective spot that highlights the deep-seated social and political tensions of Butte’s industrial past.
Powerful Epitaph: The headstone is famous for its simple but defiant inscription: “Slain by capitalist interests for his fidelity to the working class.”
A Symbol of Defiance: Visitors often leave “Union Made” tokens, red carnations (the color of the IWW), and copper pennies on the grave as a nod to his work in the Butte mines.
The “Wobbly” Legacy: Little’s death became a national flashpoint, and his funeral was one of the largest in Butte’s history, with thousands of miners marching behind the hearse.
Garden of One Thousand Buddhas
Location: 34574 White Coyote Rd
City: Arlee
Region of State Located In: Western
Google Maps Pin
Nestled in the Jocko Valley on the Flathead Indian Reservation, the Garden of One Thousand Buddhas is a stunning international center for peace. This architectural and spiritual landmark was designed to be a “Dharma sanctuary,” bringing together symbols of enlightenment in a vast, open-air setting.
The garden is arranged in the shape of an eight-spoked Dharma Wheel, representing the Noble Eightfold Path of Buddhism.
A Place for All: Visitors often describe the atmosphere as profoundly tranquil, and the garden is open to people of all faiths for walking meditation, photography, or simply enjoying the mountain views.
A Sea of Statues: The site features 1,000 hand-cast concrete Buddha statues, each meticulously aligned in concentric circles around a central 24-foot figure of Yum Chenmo (The Great Mother).
Peaceful Symbolism: In addition to the Buddhas, the garden is adorned with 1,000 stupas, which are traditional monuments representing the enlightened mind, creating a powerful sense of symmetry and calm.
Native and Spiritual Fusion: The location choice is significant, as it honors the connection between the spiritual teachings and the sacred lands of the Salish and Kootenai people.
Learn More About The Garden of One Thousand Buddhas by Clicking the Link below:
Granite Mountain Speculator Mine Memorial
Location: Alexander St
City: Butte
Region of State Located In:
Google Maps Pin
The Granite Mountain Speculator Mine Memorial is a somber and powerful tribute to the 168 miners who lost their lives in the 1917 disaster, which remains the deadliest event in the history of hard-rock mining. Located on a hillside overlooking the remains of the very mines where the fire occurred, the memorial offers a place for quiet reflection on the high human cost of the industry that built Butte.
The site is designed to be both educational and deeply moving, with the names of the fallen etched into stone to ensure they are never forgotten.
Symbolic Design: The peaceful, open-air plaza features interpretive plaques and stone markers that guide you through the timeline of the disaster and the subsequent labor reforms it sparked.
Tragic History: Visitors can read detailed accounts of the fire, which started when a lantern ignited a lead cable, quickly filling the interconnected tunnels of the Granite Mountain and Speculator mines with toxic smoke.
Heroic Stories: The memorial highlights the bravery of men like Manus Duggan, who saved 25 of his fellow miners by building a bulkhead to trap fresh air, though he tragically died before help could reach him.
Panoramic Views: Because of its elevated position, the plaza provides sweeping views of the Continental Divide and the surrounding mining landscape, including the headframes that still dot the skyline.
Check Out My Short Video Using The Below Link
Granite Mountain Memorial Video
Hungry Horse Dam
Location: 100 Hungry Horse Dam Rd
City: Hungry Horse
Region of State Located In: Northwest
Google Maps Pin
Located high in the Rocky Mountains on the South Fork of the Flathead River, Hungry Horse Dam is one of the highest concrete arch dams in the United States. This massive structure, completed in 1953, created the stunning Hungry Horse Reservoir and remains a critical component for hydroelectric power and flood control in the Pacific Northwest.
Recreational Hub: The area serves as a gateway for outdoor enthusiasts, offering access to over 170 miles of shoreline for fishing, boating, and camping in a pristine mountain setting.
Architectural Giant: Standing at 564 feet tall, it was one of the largest concrete projects of its time, featuring a unique “glory hole” spillway that allows water to drop nearly 500 feet.
Breathtaking Views: The drive across the crest of the dam offers spectacular panoramic views of the surrounding Flathead National Forest and the deep blue waters of the reservoir.
Visitor Education: The nearby visitor center provides detailed exhibits on the dam’s construction history, the local wildlife, and the engineering required to manage the river’s immense power.
Learn More About The Hungry Horse Dam
Lexington Stamp Mill & Garden
Location: 300-304 E Granite St (Google Maps Coordinates)
City: Butte
Region of State Located In: Western
Google Maps Pin
The Old Lexington Gardens, also known as the Lexington Stamp Mill and Gardens, is a beautifully reclaimed industrial site that combines Butte’s rugged mining heritage with tranquil green space. This small park is home to the remains of the Lexington Stamp Mill, which once processed silver and gold ore from the nearby Lexington Mine.
The site is a perfect example of “industrial landscaping,” where massive pieces of 19th-century machinery are integrated into a peaceful garden setting.
Interpretive Signage: The park features plaques that explain the milling process and the history of the Lexington Mine, providing context for the heavy equipment on display.
Historical Machinery: The centerpiece of the garden is the massive stamp mill itself, which was used to crush ore into a fine powder. You can see the heavy iron stamps and gears that once created a deafening roar throughout the neighborhood.
The Lexington Mine Headframe: Standing tall nearby is the original headframe of the Lexington Mine, which reached depths of over 1,400 feet. It serves as a striking vertical landmark against the Butte skyline.
Community Restoration: The garden was created by local volunteers who transformed a vacant, industrial lot into a public space, reflecting the community’s pride in preserving its “mining city” identity.
Office Chair In The Air
Location: 3411 N Reserve St (Outside The Furniture Row Store)
City: Missoula
Region of State Located In: Western
Google Maps Pin
Located on the north end of town, Furniture Row is home to one of Montana’s most recognizable roadside props. The giant office chair is a towering, oversized piece of furniture that serves as an unmissable landmark for shoppers cruising along Reserve Street.
Durable Design: Built to withstand the Montana elements, the chair is made of heavy-duty materials that keep it looking like a fresh piece of office furniture year-round.
Scaled for a Giant: The chair is a massive, meticulously detailed replica of a standard rolling office chair, standing several times the height of an average person.
A “Big” Marketing Tool: This oversized object was designed to catch the eye of passing motorists and draw them into the showroom.
Interactive Landmark: It is a popular spot for locals and travelers to pull over for a quick photo, often posing underneath the seat to show just how small they look in comparison.
Our Lady Of The Rockies
Location: Sits Atop The Continental Divide
City: Butte
Region of State Located In: Western
Google Maps Pin
The Our Lady of the Rockies, often referred to as the Lady of the Rockies, is a staggering 90-foot-tall statue that sits atop the Continental Divide. Watching over the city from an elevation of 8,510 feet, it is one of the tallest statues in the United States and serves as a non-denominational tribute to women, mothers, and wives everywhere.
The monument is a testament to community spirit, as it was built almost entirely through donated labor, materials, and funds from the people of Butte.
Emotional Significance: Inside the base, you’ll find thousands of names inscribed on the walls, honoring women from all over the world, making it a deeply personal site for many visitors.
Engineering Feat: Constructed from nearly 50 tons of reinforced steel, the statue was transported to the mountain in sections using a massive Sikorsky Skycrane helicopter provided by the Air National Guard.
Nighttime Presence: The statue is illuminated at night, appearing as a bright, celestial white figure that can be seen for miles across the Silver Bow Valley.
The Observatory: While you can admire it from the city below, summer tours take visitors directly to the base, where an indoor chapel and observatory offer incredible 360-degree views of the surrounding Rocky Mountains.
Wild Stallions On The Plains
Location: Between MT-200 and the Railroad Tracks In Plains
City: Plains
Region of State Located In: Western
Google Maps Pin
Located in a scenic corridor between Montana Highway 200 and the railroad tracks, the Wild Stallions are striking large-scale installations by renowned sculptor Kenton Pies (1932–2022). This metalwork masterpiece captures the untamed spirit of the West, featuring a small herd of steel horses that appear to be galloping forever through the open landscape.
Industrial Patina: Built from heavy-duty steel, the sculptures have weathered into a rustic, earthy finish that blends perfectly with the natural colors of the Clark Fork River valley.
The Vision of Kenton Pies: A longtime resident of Plains, Pies was a prolific artist known for his ability to transform heavy industrial materials into fluid, lifelike forms. He worked with local fabricators to weld these massive stallions, ensuring they would become a permanent part of the Montana horizon.
Dynamic Motion: The horses are crafted with a sense of movement; their manes and tails are made of metal strands that look as though they are flowing in the wind as the “herd” runs parallel to the tracks.
A “Railroad Town” Icon: Its position is a nod to the history of Plains (originally called “Wild Horse Plains”), offering a unique greeting to both motorists on the highway and passengers on passing trains.