Daly Mansion
In 1886, Marcus Daly, an Irish immigrant turned mining Copper King, bought a homestead and built a home for him and his wife just east of Hamilton. The mansion was part of Daly’s 22,000 acre Bitter Root Stock Farm. After Daly’s death, his wife Margaret renovated the mansion, with the help of famed Montana architect A.J. Gibson, to its present Georgian-Revival style. The 24,000 square foot, three story mansion has 25 bedrooms, 15 bathrooms and 7 fireplaces. The house was boarded up when Mrs. Daly died in 1941, but was reopened to the public in 1987 after more than $2 million of renovation work was done to the property and grounds. An arboretum and garden houses more than 400 trees over 26 acres of land. The mansion and grounds now serve as an educational and cultural hub for the preservation of one of Montana’s biggest names. Tours of the Daly Mansion, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Hamilton Playhouse
For many community members the summer is only complete if it includes a high quality production by the Hamilton Players in their 168-seat intimate community theater. With their mission of “Putting the spotlight on education, inspiration, and community through the performing arts” the playhouse has two full-length summer productions, camps and workshops for kids and a biennial fundraising gala.
Daly Days
Daly Days, July 30 to July 31, is Hamilton’s annual heritage celebration. The Daly Days Festival, named for the areas famous copper king Marcus Daly, is fun for the entire family. This year’s event will be held exclusively on the expansive grounds at the Daly Mansion. The Bitterroot Ragtime Society will be the event’s musical guests. There will numerous re-enactors offering insights into the mansion’s historical past.
