Sunday, April 14, 2019
NOON – 8:00 PM | REGISTRATION
Location: Main Lobby
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM | FAMILIARIZATION TOURS
Available at no additional charge to those attendees registered for the full conference. Space is limited, available first come, first served basis, please pre-register to guarantee your spot. Transportation will be provided from the Copper King Hotel & Convention Center.
9:30 AM - 12:00 PM | RAILS AND TRAILS
Guided by: Jocelyn Dodge, 2017 Montana Tourism Ambassador of the Year
Take a walk along a 1.5 stretch of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad aka Milwaukee Road located in Thompson Park, a 3,500 acre Congressionally designated municipal recreation area dedicated in 1922 – unique to the National Forest System. The Park has been co-managed with the City-County of Butte-Silver Bow since 1922 when the Mayor of Butte and Secretary of Agriculture signed an agreement – a rare occurrence. The park holds a rich history of management as a historical, recreation destination in Butte’s backyard. The park offers 25 miles of non-motorized trails for multiple recreation uses. There are two trailheads and four picnic areas, as well as two tunnels and a trestle that make up the backbone of the trail.
Notes: The walk will be on easy, railroad grade, and packed snow. Bring weather appropriate shoes (spring in Montana means lingering snow!), warm and weather-proof clothes, water, camera. Energy snacks and hydration provided.
10:00 AM - 12:30 PM or 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM | HISTORIC UPTOWN TROLLEY TOURS (2)
The fastest and most colorful way to learn about Butte is a Trolley Tour. In about two hours, you'll see where the characters, famous folk, miners and scoundrels lived and worked. Plus, you'll hear how they made Butte the lively, urban center it was. The trolley driver will share knowledge of Butte history and folklore. Sightseeing tour includes: National Historic District, Charles W. Clark Chateau, Victorian neighborhoods, Copper King Mansion, Dumas Brothel Museum, Piccadilly Museum of Transportation, World Museum of Mining, Mai Wah, and our Lady of the Rockies. The trolley will stop at the Berkeley Pit viewing stand and the Copper King Mansion for a guided tour inside the historic home of William Andrews Clark.
12:30 PM - 4:00 PM | HEADFRAMES AND MINESHAFTS
Join us for a private bus tour as we visit the World Museum of Mining and explore the underground mine tunnels and shafts of the original Orphan Girl Mine. Go down either 65 or 100 feet and experience a mine tour unlike any other. Next we’ll stop at the Berkeley Pit, the mining site that marked the shift from underground to open pit mining in 1955. Finally, we’ll finish with a pint, or two, at Butte Brewing in old Finn Town, East Butte.
2:00 PM - 4:30 PM | BARRELS, BOTTLES AND BROTHELS
Butte is more than copper and characters. Join us as we learn about a few of the unique economic drivers of Butte’s past and present. The guided bus tour will travel up to visit the Kelley Mine, one of the last underground mines established in Butte, and the last to close in 1983. The once prosperous mine is now the site of Headframe Spirits Manufacturing (HSM) and Mountain Consolidated Packaging (MCP), two of four successful operations under the Headframe Spirits company. We’ll learn how Headframe Spirits is both dedicated to providing quality products and continuing the rich tradition of economic opportunity in Butte.
At the Dumas Brothel we’ll peek into the unusually lucrative history of Butte’s red light district. We’ll finish with a stop for a tour and tasting at Headframe Spirits tasting room, a contemporary favorite born from the depths of Butte’s famous mines.
5:30 – 6:30 PM | FIRST-TIME ATTENDEES "PRECEPTION"
Presenters: Dax Schieffer, Director, Voices of Montana Tourism & Jan Stoddard, Bureau Chief, Industry Services & Outreach, MOTBD
Location: Copper Conference Center
If you're attending the Governor's Conference for the first time, then you're invited to this exclusive "preception" to the Welcome Reception. After a brief introduction to the Montana Office of Tourism and Business Development, learn how to get the most from the Governor's Conference before enjoying time to chat with MOTBD staff and other first-time attendees.
7:00 – 9:00 PM | WELCOME RECEPTION
Location: Bert Mooney Airport | 101 Airport Road (directly across Harrison Avenue from the Copper King)
Transportation from the Copper King Hotel & Conference Center will be provided as well as crossing escorts for those who prefer to walk the short distance.
The recently constructed new terminal at Bert Mooney Airport is the perfect site to host the reception to welcome attendees to the 2019 Governor's Conference on Tourism and Recreation. The spirit of travel and adventure will fill the 40,633 square foot space that was designed to reflect the historical charm of Butte, while providing the modern necessities that travelers desire.
Many historical figures made the trek through Butte throughout the years, and in 1927 history was made as pilot Charles Lindbergh landed the "Spirit of St. Louis" in Butte. Other notable visitors include: Charles Dickinson in 1927, Teddy Roosevelt in 1936, Thomas Dewey in 1948, Harry Truman in 1956 and Lyndon Johnson in 1964.
Pack your bags and plan to travel to the 2019 conference...more details to come!