Our Lady of the Rockies

A 90-foot white statue of the Virgin Mary standing on the Continental Divide above Butte, on the East Ridge. At 8,510 feet she is one of the highest statues in the United States, lit from below at night so she is visible from anywhere in the valley.

A summer-only bus tour runs from the Butte Plaza Mall to the foot of the statue — it is the only practical way to reach her. The view back over the city and the Berkeley Pit from up there is the main reason to make the trip, alongside the statue itself.

things to do sight
A story
The statue was the idea of a Butte ironworker, Bob O'Bill, who promised the Virgin he would build a tribute if his wife survived cancer. It took six years of community labour, a National Guard helicopter to fly the four pre-assembled sections into place at 8,500 feet, and a final installation in December 1985.