original_query: What is the history of Butte, Montana?
query: What is the history of Butte, Montana?
answer: Butte, Montana, initially established as a mining camp in the 1860s, experienced a boom in silver and gold mining, followed by an even greater expansion with the discovery of copper and the arrival of industrial magnates known as the "Copper Kings."  The city's growth was accompanied by significant labor activism and socialist movements, but also by mining disasters such as the 1917 Speculator Mine disaster. After a decline in copper demand in the mid-20th century, Butte transitioned to open-pit mining before operations finally ceased in 1983.  Post-millennium economic revitalization efforts have focused on technology, healthcare, and the preservation of the city's historic buildings and cultural heritage.