Anaconda

One of Montana's towns with the most historical significance is Anaconda. The biggest copper smelter in Montana used to be located in this community in the southwest. Today, tourists who want to take advantage of some of Montana's best recreational areas congregate there. The rich history of Anaconda dates back to the early 1900s, when it was a thriving center for the smelting of copper. Anaconda still stands tall with historic roots embedded throughout the streets even though the copper smelt was shut down in 1980. In Anaconda, the venerable Smelter Stack still stands tall. This monument for the area is a 585-foot brick tower, one of the tallest of its kind in the country.

From Anaconda Smoke Stack State Park, visitors can get a closer look at the tower. More historical information is available on Anaconda's streets. Four historic areas of the town are surrounded by vintage Western-style facades. With its classic Art Deco style, the Washoe Theater in Anaconda is especially aesthetically pleasing. Modern blockbusters are shown at the theater every day of the week. The rest of the city offers contemporary amusements in historic settings, much like the Washoe Theater.

The nearby famous Montana landscapes are a major draw for tourists to Anaconda. Beginning in Anaconda, the Pintler Veterans Memorial Scenic Highway travels 64 miles through breathtaking mountainous terrain. Georgetown Lake and the neighboring Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest offer additional outdoor activities.