New Butte Christmas puzzle available, sales to support new trolley

Following the success of the original 'Butte, America' puzzle, as painted by renowned folk artist, Eric Dowdle, the Mining City received an early Christmas present from Dowdle in the form on a new puzzle, depicting Butte in festive apparel and wintry weather.

The puzzle includes iconography of some Butte's most famous landmarks, including Our Lady of the Rockies, the Hotel Finlen, and the 'M' on Big Butte.

"Christmas in Butte is such a special time," said Stephanie Sorini, executive director of the Butte Chamber of Commerce. "It's when family and friends come together. When you look at [the puzzle], it just give you a good, warm feeling."

As Sorini says, sales from the Christmas puzzle will go toward funding for a new trolley for the Chamber.

The trolley, which offers visitors tours of historic Uptown Butte and is critical for the city's tourism industry, is nearly 20 years old and nearing its end of life.

Sorini says that the Chamber is hoping to sell enough puzzles to secure a new trolley by the end of 2026.

"When we have about 40,000 people visiting our visitor information center and our Berkeley Pit viewing center, usually from Memorial Day to Labor Day, that is our busy time for the trolley," Sorini said. "We seat 26 people on there. We do three trolley tours a day, and they're usually full. It's a great opportunity for people that come to Butte to explore our wonderful community and learn about our cultural history."

The Christmas puzzle can be bought for $30 at the Chamber of Commerce's Visitor Information Center at 1000 George St., as well as the Berkeley Pit Viewing Stand and a handful of retailers around town. It comes in either a 500- or 1000-piece variety.