If you’ve spent time in Butte or driven through Silver Bow County, you’ve certainly seen the massive white statue overlooking the city. Perhaps you’ve been comforted by the seemingly maternal figure looking out for you, or maybe you just wondered why it’s there. Its backstory is actually quite beautiful. Our Lady of the Rockies is the fourth tallest statue in the United States, towering 3,500 feet above town. It’s visible day and night, and the people of Butte love that it’s there. Here’s the story behind this unique Montana landmark:

Our Lady of the Rockies was built in the likeness of Mary, who the Bible lists as the mother of Jesus.

AllAroundTheWest / Wikipedia The statue sits at the top of the Continental Divide, peering out over the city of Butte.

Our Lady of the Rockies was originally built by Butte resident Bob O’Bill in 1979.

ArtBrom / Flickr O’Bill built the statue for his beloved wife after she recovered from cancer. When she was diagnosed, he vowed to build it if she survived. Thankfully, she did.

The statue was largely constructed using donations of money, materials, and labor from the local community.

Simon Foot / Flickr It was a true labor of love. The design was even engineered by retired engineer for the Anaconda Copper Mining Company who donated his skills to the venture. The land for the site was donated by Guy Ossello.

By the end of 1985, the statue was finished and was soon placed at the top of the Continental Divide.

Amanda Z / Google There was some opposition to the statue, both from religious folks and secular locals. They protested on the grounds of separation of church and state. In the end, the statue was given the go-ahead.

Today, Our Lady of the Rockies is dedicated to all women, regardless of religious beliefs.

AllAroundTheWest / Flickr - AllAroundTheWest.com Our Lady of the Rockies Gift Shop in Butte offers tours in the summer. In addition to the statue itself, visitors can explore an observatory / chapel and visit the Memorial Wall, where over 15,000 names of women who are no longer with us are etched in remembrance.

Butte is well-known for its attitude of hard work and perseverance, and this statue’s story represents the area well.

Michael Lemler / Google This lady certainly has some of the best views in all of Montana.

Were you aware of the history of Our Lady of the Rockies? Does it change how you view the statue? Tell us your thoughts in the comments. Check out our previous article for another unique statue in Montana!

AllAroundTheWest / Wikipedia

The statue sits at the top of the Continental Divide, peering out over the city of Butte.

ArtBrom / Flickr

O’Bill built the statue for his beloved wife after she recovered from cancer. When she was diagnosed, he vowed to build it if she survived. Thankfully, she did.

Simon Foot / Flickr

It was a true labor of love. The design was even engineered by retired engineer for the Anaconda Copper Mining Company who donated his skills to the venture. The land for the site was donated by Guy Ossello.

Amanda Z / Google

There was some opposition to the statue, both from religious folks and secular locals. They protested on the grounds of separation of church and state. In the end, the statue was given the go-ahead.

AllAroundTheWest / Flickr - AllAroundTheWest.com

Our Lady of the Rockies Gift Shop in Butte offers tours in the summer. In addition to the statue itself, visitors can explore an observatory / chapel and visit the Memorial Wall, where over 15,000 names of women who are no longer with us are etched in remembrance.

Michael Lemler / Google

This lady certainly has some of the best views in all of Montana.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.

Address: Our Lady of the Rockies, Butte Plaza Mall, 3100 Harrison Ave, Butte, MT 59701, USA

The OIYS Visitor Center

Montana Landmarks January 16, 2023 Sarah M. What are some other unique Montana landmarks? There’s so much to see and do in the Treasure State, especially for those love spending time outdoors. However, if you’re more of a history buff or curious explorer, there are some unique Montana landmarks sure to capture your imagination:

Berkley Pit. Berkley Pit boasts a long and storied history in Butte, dating back to 1955. It served as a copper mine from the time it opened until the early 1980s with more than 290 billion tons of copper ore removed during the mine’s history. Today, visitors flock to this unique roadside attraction to snap photos and marvel at the massive pit that measures 7,000 feet in length and 5,600 feet in width – and a depth of 1,600 feet! Bring along a few dollars for the entrance fee to access the viewing platform that offers prime views of the pit. The Cut Bank Penguin. Cut Bank is a small city of about 3,000 people, located on Highway 2 between I-15 and Glacier National Park. It gets very cold here; and in fact, it does sometimes hold the title of the coldest spot in the Lower 48. To celebrate its cold-weather clout, artist Ron Gustafson created a penguin statue in 1989. You’ll find him outside of the Glacier Gateway Inn. The statue was designed to commemorate Cute Bank’s freezing cold status, but most locals agree that he’s pretty charming – when his speaker works, he’s known to blurt out “Welcome to Cut Bank, the Coldest Spot in the Nation!”

Evel Knievel’s Grave. While it might not be typical roadside attraction, Evel Knievel’s grave is worth a visit, especially if you’re a fan of the famous daredevil. Robert Craig Knievel, his official name, was born in 1938 in Butte. Although he traveled all over, beginning in the 1960s and performing death-defying stunts throughout his life, he returned home after his death.

The OIYS Visitor Center

Montana Landmarks

January 16, 2023

Sarah M.

What are some other unique Montana landmarks? There’s so much to see and do in the Treasure State, especially for those love spending time outdoors. However, if you’re more of a history buff or curious explorer, there are some unique Montana landmarks sure to capture your imagination:

Berkley Pit. Berkley Pit boasts a long and storied history in Butte, dating back to 1955. It served as a copper mine from the time it opened until the early 1980s with more than 290 billion tons of copper ore removed during the mine’s history. Today, visitors flock to this unique roadside attraction to snap photos and marvel at the massive pit that measures 7,000 feet in length and 5,600 feet in width – and a depth of 1,600 feet! Bring along a few dollars for the entrance fee to access the viewing platform that offers prime views of the pit. The Cut Bank Penguin. Cut Bank is a small city of about 3,000 people, located on Highway 2 between I-15 and Glacier National Park. It gets very cold here; and in fact, it does sometimes hold the title of the coldest spot in the Lower 48. To celebrate its cold-weather clout, artist Ron Gustafson created a penguin statue in 1989. You’ll find him outside of the Glacier Gateway Inn. The statue was designed to commemorate Cute Bank’s freezing cold status, but most locals agree that he’s pretty charming – when his speaker works, he’s known to blurt out “Welcome to Cut Bank, the Coldest Spot in the Nation!”

Evel Knievel’s Grave. While it might not be typical roadside attraction, Evel Knievel’s grave is worth a visit, especially if you’re a fan of the famous daredevil. Robert Craig Knievel, his official name, was born in 1938 in Butte. Although he traveled all over, beginning in the 1960s and performing death-defying stunts throughout his life, he returned home after his death.

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

There’s so much to see and do in the Treasure State, especially for those love spending time outdoors. However, if you’re more of a history buff or curious explorer, there are some unique Montana landmarks sure to capture your imagination:

  • Berkley Pit. Berkley Pit boasts a long and storied history in Butte, dating back to 1955. It served as a copper mine from the time it opened until the early 1980s with more than 290 billion tons of copper ore removed during the mine’s history. Today, visitors flock to this unique roadside attraction to snap photos and marvel at the massive pit that measures 7,000 feet in length and 5,600 feet in width – and a depth of 1,600 feet! Bring along a few dollars for the entrance fee to access the viewing platform that offers prime views of the pit.
  • The Cut Bank Penguin. Cut Bank is a small city of about 3,000 people, located on Highway 2 between I-15 and Glacier National Park. It gets very cold here; and in fact, it does sometimes hold the title of the coldest spot in the Lower 48. To celebrate its cold-weather clout, artist Ron Gustafson created a penguin statue in 1989. You’ll find him outside of the Glacier Gateway Inn. The statue was designed to commemorate Cute Bank’s freezing cold status, but most locals agree that he’s pretty charming – when his speaker works, he’s known to blurt out “Welcome to Cut Bank, the Coldest Spot in the Nation!”
  • Evel Knievel’s Grave. While it might not be typical roadside attraction, Evel Knievel’s grave is worth a visit, especially if you’re a fan of the famous daredevil. Robert Craig Knievel, his official name, was born in 1938 in Butte. Although he traveled all over, beginning in the 1960s and performing death-defying stunts throughout his life, he returned home after his death.

Evel Knievel’s Grave. While it might not be typical roadside attraction, Evel Knievel’s grave is worth a visit, especially if you’re a fan of the famous daredevil. Robert Craig Knievel, his official name, was born in 1938 in Butte. Although he traveled all over, beginning in the 1960s and performing death-defying stunts throughout his life, he returned home after his death.