Clark Chateau Museum

The Clark Chateau at 321 West Broadway is a castle-like mansion built in 1898 for Charles Walker Clark, son of copper king William A. Clark. Its four floors and twenty-six rooms were designed in a French-inspired style with turrets, dormers and rich interiors, and it stands in the heart of Uptown as a statement of how thoroughly copper money shaped the skyline. Today the building is owned by the local government and used as an arts and community space, with historic rooms, exhibits and rotating events that give visitors a way to see inside without a separate bed and breakfast stay. Inside, the chateau retains its sense of grandeur. Decorative woodwork, grand staircases, and high ceilings are on display, and the layout shows how a wealthy family lived with servants, entertaining spaces and private rooms. It is run in cooperation with the local arts community, which means the schedule may include exhibitions, concerts and special events, as well as guided access to historic rooms. Because hours and programming can change, check ahead for tours and current exhibits before you visit.

Allow an hour to an hour and a half, depending on whether you join a guided visit or explore on your own. The building's location makes it easy to combine with other Uptown stops: the Mai Wah museum, the Courthouse, the Copper King Mansion and a variety of restaurants are within walking distance. If you are staying Uptown, you can slip in before dinner. The chateau is particularly appealing in the warmer months, when the stone and the sky show off its architecture, but interior visits are possible whenever it is open.

Architecture fans will notice the contrast with the Copper King Mansion, which is a Victorian built in the previous decade. The two houses together show how tastes changed within a family and across a decade, and visiting both gives a satisfying comparison. The chateau also tells a story about Butte's role as a cultural center in the early twentieth century, when the wealth of the mines supported theaters, orchestras and galleries.

Wear comfortable shoes, since you will be on stairs, and bring a camera for the staircases and ceilings. Ask staff whether photography is allowed in particular rooms. The building has a long history of repairs and restoration, and some areas may be closed for maintenance on any given day. If you travel with children, it is a calm and easy visit, though there are fragile objects.

Accessibility varies, because historic buildings have steps and narrow corridors, so call ahead if you need help. For people who like to build a day around a theme, combine the chateau with the Mother Lode Theatre or a walking tour of Uptown, and finish with dinner in one of the historic dining rooms nearby.

The chateau also hosts community events, so a visit may coincide with a gallery opening, a class or a concert. If so, take the chance to talk to the organizers, who are often passionate about the building and its future. Checking the events calendar before you go helps you choose between a quiet daytime tour and a livelier evening. Parking is on the street in Uptown, and the building is easy to find on West Broadway, close to the Courthouse.

Because it is a public building, admission is usually modest or by donation, which makes it a good value compared with the paid mansion tour. Many visitors do both on the same day for contrast, the Victorian at the Copper King Mansion and the French-inspired chateau, and finish with a stroll to dinner.