anaconda smoke stack state park

I had noticed the stack off in the distance the couple of times I've driven to Glacier, but after doing a little research I decided to drive up to Anaconda and check it out. Anaconda is a small town in a remote area of Montana, but it used to be a bustling mining town. The stack is amazing, constructed in 1919 it stands 585 ft. and remains one of the tallest brick structures standing in the world. The Smelter was shut down in 1980 and was part of one of the biggest environment cleanups to be funded by the Superfund of the EPA. The Stack was preserved by a heroic effort of the local people and now stands on the National Register of Historic Places. A State Park has been designated for a small portion of this area. The visit was surreal, as there were huge mountains of black slag looming everywhere. You cannot actually visit the Stack, it's just too toxic, so you have to settle for viewing it from one mile away. We drove up the Stack Road a way, but it was blocked off, so we went back to the tiny and weathered "State Park" which consisted of just a few mining artifacts, some placard memorials and a very impressive recreation of the enormity of the size of the top of the stack and the base. This "park" was in a state of disrepair, but the impact of the smelting operation on the environment and economy of the area was apparent. We drove up and down the streets of the small town, a town apparently struggling even after all these years with the aftermath of a bygone era. If you are traveling I-90 in Montana, take the time to make the detour and see The Stack, it is well worth the time to see some important American History, the good and the bad, and it is very impressive. For those who love American History and Americana, this is recommended!