BUTTE (AP)
Unusual buildings in this old mining city will come under expert eyes in two years when a national architecture conference takes place here. The Vernacular Architecture Forum plans to hold its 2009 conference in Butte. Organizers expect about 200 architects, historians, planners and other professionals. Vernacular architecture is the study of the distinctive architecture of a place. Organizers of the conference say participants will be interested in Butte mansions, miners’ cottages, mine head frames and ethnically inspired places of faith and fraternity. Destinations for field trips include Anaconda, Philipsburg, Helena, Bannack, Dillon, Virginia City and Pony. The Vernacular Architecture Forum board recently chose Butte as the conference site while meeting in Savannah, Ga. Representatives of the Montana Historic Preservation Office and Butte Citizens for Preservation and Revitalization appeared before the board to tout Butte as a conference site. The conference is planned for June 2009. Dates have not been set.
