City Walking Video for Treadmill Virtual Vacation
Walk around historic Anaconda, Montana in the cold, we get to see some of the character of this old mining town.
Walking Tour of Anaconda Montana
Hello Walkers,
It’s another cold, frosty morning here in Anaconda, Montana, and today we’re setting out on the second of two walking tours through this historic mining town. We start at the beautifully restored Smelter City Brewing Company—a building I’m admittedly smitten with—and make our way down Main Street, passing Kennedy Commons park, the public library, Anaconda High School, and the Deer Lodge County Courthouse.
Anaconda’s story began in 1883, when Marcus Daly, one of Montana’s legendary “Copper Kings,” decided to build a massive smelter here to process ore from the mines in nearby Butte, just 25 miles away. Daly originally wanted to call the town Copperopolis, but when that name was already taken, he borrowed the name from his smelter company instead.
The smelter put Anaconda on the map, but it also left behind a complicated legacy. Years of operation produced heavy pollution, and the city is now part of one of the largest Superfund cleanup sites in the nation. Walking through town, you can still see traces of its mining past in the rows of modest miners’ cottages alongside the occasional grand home—reminders of both the industry’s reach and the wealth it created for a few.
Surrounding it all are the snowy Pintlar Mountains, wrapping the town in rugged beauty on three sides. With a population of nearly 10,000, Anaconda still maintains a close-knit community feel, and the historic downtown retains much of its early 20th-century charm.
It was such a bright, crisp morning that we ended up filming two walks here, even though my GoPro had a mind of its own and cut off a bit early on this one. Still, it’s a beautiful route with a mix of history, architecture, and mountain views—and well worth bundling up for.
Keep on steppin’ – Henry
Where to Stay in Anaconda, Montana
More Walks from Butte and Anaconda:
Anaconda Montana Virtual Treadmill Walk
Butte, Montana – Richest Hill on Earth
Butte Montana – Montana Tech to Uptown
Downtown Butte, Montana Walking Tour
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