THE PASTIME BAR
Butte, Montana • Mining Town Bar • Est. 1902
GHOST STORIES
The spirits of Butte's mining past still linger
The Miner
Seen near: Back corner booth
A figure in dusty work clothes appears late at night, orders a whiskey, then vanishes before the bartender can pour it. Some say he died in the 1917 Speculator Mine disaster.
THE MINER'S SCHEDULE
How the shifts shaped bar culture in Butte
Day Shift
7:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Miners coming off the graveyard shift would stop for a "wake-up" before heading home
Swing Shift
3:00 PM - 11:00 PM
The busiest time - miners celebrating the end of their shift
Graveyard Shift
11:00 PM - 7:00 AM
The quiet hours when the serious drinkers held court
ST. PATRICK'S DAY IN BUTTE
Butte's Irish heritage runs deep - the copper mines drew thousands of Irish immigrants in the late 1800s. Today, St. Patrick's Day in Butte is legendary. The celebration starts at 6 AM and doesn't stop until the last person standing calls it quits. The Pastime is ground zero.
The Story
Butte, Montana has more bars per capita than anywhere in America. That's not a boast - it's a fact born from a century of copper mining and the hard-drinking men who worked the mines. The Pastime has been here since 1902, and it's still standing. That should tell you something.
What to Expect
The Pastime is a time capsule. The original back bar is still there - ornate woodwork, vintage mirrors, brass fixtures that have been polished by a century of elbows. Mining memorabilia covers the walls: old photographs, union signs, equipment from the deep shafts. The regulars are a mix of old-timers who remember the mines and younger folks keeping the tradition alive.
What to Order
Whiskey. This is a whiskey town. The miners drank it to warm up after shifts in the cold, wet tunnels, and the tradition continues. Irish whiskey is popular here, given Butte's heritage, but any brown liquor will do. They pour strong - always have, always will. Beer chasers are acceptable and encouraged.
PHOTO GALLERY
The original back bar - over 120 years of history
Mining history covers every inch of the walls
Craftsmanship from a bygone era
FIND US
131 S Main St
Butte, MT 59701
(406) 782-9231
HOURS
Monday - Thursday11:00 AM - 2:00 AM
Friday - Saturday11:00 AM - 2:00 AM
Sunday12:00 PM - 12:00 AM
* St. Patrick's Day: Opens at 6:00 AM