Tester Secures Nearly $750,000 to Preserve Butte’s Historic District

Funding from National Park Service will support historic preservation efforts in Butte, largest historic district west of the Mississippi

As part of his continued efforts to ensure communities in Montana have up-to-date infrastructure, U.S. Senator Jon Tester secured $749,862 from the National Park Service in Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grants for the Butte-Silver Bow Historic Revitalization Project to preserve and revitalize Butte’s historic district.

As a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Tester secured these funds through the FY23 government funding bill. Senator Tester was the only member of Montana’s Congressional delegation to vote for this funding.

“Butte, America is home to the largest historic district west of the Mississippi, and that history ought to be preserved,” said Tester.“The history of Butte is a vital part of our state and our nation’s story, and I am proud to have secured this funding to ensure Butte’s historic district will be around for our children and grandchildren to enjoy.”

The Butte-Silver Bow Historic Revitalization Project will provide subgrants to economically stagnant properties within the Butte National Historic Landmark District, requiring a financial boost of outside funds to make them viable and serviceable to the Butte community. Projects may include affordable housing, enhanced workspaces, repurposed commercial spaces, stabilization of crucial building systems, and modernization of life safety systems and building code issues.

The grants are supported through the Historic Preservation Fund (HPF), which has provided more than $2 billion in historic preservation grants to states, Tribes, local governments, and nonprofit organizations since its inception in 1977. The HPF uses revenue from federal offshore oil and gas leases to support a broad range of preservation projects without spending tax dollars.