Basin Creek Park Nominated for National Register Listing

• October 12 2023

The once enormously popular Basin Creek Park recently was nominated for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places, as some structures undergo repairs.

Basin Creek Park’s popularity began following the completion of a stone masonry dam in the mid-1890s, which created a reservoir to supply Butte with some of its drinking water. The reservoir and its rugged mountain setting offered families a cool retreat from the dust and heat of the city during the long months of summer.

Butte City Water initially owned the reservoir, but it transitioned in 1901 into the Butte Water Company and the groundwork was laid for a park at Basin Creek. By 1906, after workers planted cottonwoods, maples, and elms, along with seeding lawns, the former construction campsite gave the public a place to picnic in the shade.

“That spring, the Anaconda Standard reported that Butte Water placed no restrictions on visitors to Basin Creek ‘inspecting the reservoir and enjoying a few happy hours in the park,’ other than activities ‘shall not be absurd,’” according to the nomination form.

The historic district contains a variety of buildings, structures, and objects, all of which contribute to its significant historical value. These resources include the striking Craftsman style Foreman’s House, a rustic and charming pavilion – both built in 1913 – plus a storage shed, two root cellars, firepits, and water spigot.

“The Foreman’s House … was constructed in 1913 from plans prepared by one of Montana’s most prestigious architectural firms at the time, Link & Haire,” the form notes.

The present property's owner, Butte Silver Bow, recently rehabilitated the exterior of the house, paid for through a Montana State Historic Preservation Office grant from the National Park Service. The efforts included installing new windows and doors, painting or staining the woodwork, restoring the front porch, and other items.

Inside, the lath and plaster has been removed but the wall studs remain, demarcating one room from another. Butte-Silver Bow is currently seeking funding to restore the interior.

In addition to providing a protected platform for dances and other social events, the pavilion sheltered a toilet reserved for use by women and children. The pavilion underwent a repair and restoration effort in the early 1990s.