Basin Creek Caretaker’s House

REVITALIZING MONTANA’S RURAL HERITAGE

In 2019, the National Park Service awarded Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant program funds to the Montana State Historic Preservation Office’s Revitalizing Montana’s Rural Heritage (RMRH) program. RMRH subgranted nearly $500,000 to eight substantial preservation projects in rural communities across the state.

Jeff Schuller watercolor, 2024

Butte Vicinity | BUTTE-SILVER BOW County

At the end of Basin Creek Road about nine miles south of Butte, a handsome Craftsman-style home stands watch over the curated landscape of Basin Creek Park Historic District. Designed in 1913 by famed Montana architects John G. Link and Charles S. Haire, the house features classic Craftsman details like exposed rafters, shingled gables, and a deep porch with square tapered columns. The City and County of Butte-Silver Bow used RMRH funds to rehabilitate the home’s exterior and will restore the interior back to a livable condition. A seasonal caretaker will occupy the home to oversee recreational use of Basin Creek Park.

Designed by the Butte Water Company, Basin Creek Park was used by several Butte-based corporations throughout the twentieth century for employee retreats. The park provided working- and middle-class families with a safe space for picnicking and outdoor recreation, all at a tranquil distance from the noise and pollution of the Mining City. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, Basin Creek Park still holds a special place in the hearts of generations of Buttians.

Learn more about this card and others in the Celebrate Montana Preservation series: https://mhs.mt.gov/Shpo/celebrate-preservation