Philipsburg, Montana, is located about 30 minutes off of I-90, southeast of Missoula, Montana or west of Butte, Montana, and offers a wide range of activities for visitors and residents alike. Known as an 18th century mining town, the area is rich in history but offers much more than mining these days. Silver mining originally brought this town to life back in the late 1860s and while sapphire mining is still a main attraction (you can mine your own valuable Montana sapphires while visiting Philipsburg), there is much to do while visiting the area.
In town, you'll find local merchants cheerful and accommodating with a broad range of merchandise. Eating, drinking, antique hunting and Montana sapphire mining can all be done in downtown Philipsburg, MT. If getting dirty mining for your sapphire doesn't appeal to you, visit one of our jewelry stores to find your perfect Montana sapphire, set and ready to wear!
During the summer months, live music and occasional concerts can be enjoyed in Philipsburg. Winninghoff Park is an outdoor amphitheater and home to the annual Rotary Summer Concert. Lodging comes in all shapes and styles, including a 5 star Dude Ranch, themed suite Bed and Breakfasts, ranger cabins for rent in the woods or find a quiet spot by the river for your tent or RV. It's your experience, we offer something for everyone.
While mining your own valuable Montana sapphires, gold and silver are activities Philipsburg, Montana is known for, there are many other things to do indoors or out when you visit Philipsburg. If you like the outdoors, fishing, boating, birding, and hiking are great in the area. For the sportsmen, fishing and hunting opportunities abound. For history buffs, check out the nearby ghost towns and historic mines - some you need to hike or ski in, others you can drive to (seasonally).
While mining your own valuable Montana sapphires and other valuable gemstones and precious metals is the activity Philipsburg, Montana is known for, there are many other things to do indoors or out when you visit Philipsburg. If you like the outdoors, boating, birding, and hiking are great in the area. For the sportsmen, fishing and hunting opportunities abound. For history buffs, check out the nearby ghost towns and historic mines - some you need to hike or ski in, others you can drive to (seasonally).
When the seasons change, you don't need to pack it in in Philipsburg, MT. Anywhere you can hike in the summer you can snowshoe or cross country ski during the winter, and there are many trails open to snowmobiles. In addition, with the coming of the snow, Discovery Ski area opens up for all you snowboarders and alpine skiers (that's downhill skiing). And that Montana sapphire mining? There's indoor opportunities for that too! Of course, there are also unique Montana gift shops and antique shops open for your shopping enjoyment. And, of course, don't forget to stop in for dinner at one of our restaurants and a nice night in a warm and beautiful hotel or bed and breakfast.
The Gem Mountain Sapphire Mine is located about 20 miles outside of Philipsburg on the Skalkaho highway. Enjoy the outdoors as you wash and sort through your bucket of gravel and find local sapphires - open seasonally during the warmer months of the year. Gem Mountain also has a gift store in Philipsburg, MT, which is open all year and offers sapphire mining indoors.
Mine Montana sapphire and other gemstones using the running water flume at Montana Gems. Located in Historic downtown Philipsburg, MT, near the gem mountain mine. This family attraction offers Montana sapphire gravel direct from 2 Montana sapphire mines. Mine your gravel on-site or take it with you and all kids get a free geode when gem hunting. Rockhounding tools of all types can be found at their shop hanging above the Mt sapphire gravel. Their Montana sapphire jewelry and gem gallery selection offers a wide variety of ready-made and custom jewelry items. Yogo sapphire jewelry in 14k gold and sterling silver adds to the collection. Bring the family and have some fun at Montana Gems of Philipsburg - where The Fun Starts Here!
Other Montana sapphire stores and galleries in Philipsburg offer additional opportunities for Montana sapphire mining, beautiful Montana sapphire jewelery, and purchase of loose Montana sapphires for your own settings. You don't have to drive any rough roads or brave the elements to mine your Montana sapphires at various year-round Philipsburg sapphire mining operations. Friendly staff members at these local Montana sapphire mining establishments will help you evaluate your gemstones and determine which are worth heat treating, cutting, and give you options for use of the other stones as well. Be sure to check out all the Montana sapphire mining opportunities when you visit Philipsburg, Montana.
Spend some time in this fun museum that provide a great overview of the silver mining operations that took place during the late 19th century. You'll see real mining equipment, old photos, a miner's cabin, and have a chance to walk into a realistic simulation of an actual mine. Other exhibits at Granite County Museum focus on pioneer and homestead era history.
Gold and silver mining by nature is a boom & bust industry, leaving Montana with many ghost towns to explore. Not far from the heart of Philipsburg, MT, lies Granite Ghost Town, located about 4 miles up a rough mountain road that's open seasonally. Currently managed by the Montana's State Park System, this ghost town still holds the remains of the Miner's Union Hall, Granite Mine Superintendent's House and miner housing. Granite Ghost Town is open during the warm months after the road is cleared of winter snow.
A small plaque next to a large tailing pile lets you know you've reached what used to be another small mining community just east of Philipsburg. You'll see remnants of mining shacks and foundations of old buildings along this back road. Named after Charlemagne Tower, this town had 2 boom and bust cycles - the first spurred by gold in the 1870's, the second by manganese ending in 1940. Tower is a class C mining town.
Philipsburg is home to many wonderful and diverse shops. You'll find a famous candy emporium offering Montana's best hand made candies, several antique stores, jewelry stores (including Montana sapphire specialists) and everything in between. Whether you're looking for a souvenir of your Montana vacation, Montana sapphire jewelry, Montana and western art, opportunities to mine for your own Montana sapphires, top-quality, hand-made candies and chocolates, or mysterious antiques that tell their own stories, Philipsburg has the shop to meet your needs.
Built in 1891, this historic theatre has been restored and now offers a variety of fun performances each summer. The Opera House Theatre Company specializes in comedic plays and a vaudeville-style variety show.
With several lakes and streams in Philipsburg, MT and the surrounding area, you'll find the perfect place to go fishing.
For Special Events and Festivals in Philipsburg, Montana, check out the Philipsburg community calendar! We also have many Philipsburg activities in our business directory.
