Basin Creek Park Historic District, Listed!

The Basin Creek Park Historic District represents corporate efforts of the early twentieth century to provide members of the working and middle classes a place to escape the summer heat of the city for leisure and recreation in a scenic rural setting. Butte Water Company’s commitment to maintaining the free public park ensured Basin Creek’s role as one of the most popular recreation spots in Silver Bow County for decades to come.

Initial work to create a more pleasing environment at Basin Creek for picnics and other recreational activities began soon after the turn of the nineteenth century but was limited to simple grounds improvement projects. In the mid-1910s, the Butte Water Company substantially increased its investment in the park, transforming Basin Creek into a major recreational area for the residents of Butte.  Improvements included the addition of a pavilion, a variety of trees, a sprinkler system to keep lawns and trees green, and an architecturally sophisticated house designed by noted Montana architects Link & Haire for use by the park foreman.

SILVER BOW COUNTY, Basin Creek Park Historic District, Approximately 9 miles south of Butte on Basin Creek Rd. (393), Butte vicinity, SG100009566, LISTED, 11/27/2023