Business View Civil and Municipal | Volume 2, Issue 12

131 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 2, ISSUE 11 Our Lady of the Rockies Our Lady of the Rockies is a 90-foot steel statue in the likeness of the Virgin Mary, overlooking the city of Butte. Only 10 feet shorter than the Statue of Liberty, it is the fourth tallest statue in the U.S. The ‘Lady’ sits 8,510 feet above sea level and is 3,500 feet above the city. Six years after it was begun in 1979, a crowd of onlookers watched as it was lowered in four sections by sky crane to its final destination. The nondenominational monument is dedicated to women everywhere, especially mothers. The project was inspired by Butte resident Bob O’Bill, in honor of his wife who had survived cancer. The hard work of dedicated volunteers and many donations brought the project to fruition in 1985. Today, the statue is a major attraction for the City of Butte and plans are underway to build an aerial tram to deliver tourists to this magnificent icon. BUTTE , MONTANA