If you love to learn about Montana's history, you won't find a better city to explore than Butte. Once dubbed the "richest hill on Earth" due to its thriving mining industry, it's full of century-old attractions and museums that tell the tale of the Treasure State's past. The M&M Bar and Cafe (as it's now known) is definitely a must-see on any self-guided history tour - once a bustling miners' hangout, this bar and cafe is a local icon.

Please note, M&M is temporarily closed.

The M&M first opened in 1890 under the ownership of Sam Martin and William F. Mosby.

Customers quickly started referring to it as the M&M, and the name stuck.

The original M&M offered so much more than cigars - in fact, the Cigar Store portion of the name was actually added during Prohibition to deter local law enforcement.

The building once held a bowling alley in the basement, a restaurant, bar, and casino, and even an arcade.

For over a century, this place was open 24 hours a day... in fact, the doors never even had locks.

Customers were served around the clock, and the place was almost never empty. Since miners would come off their shifts at all hours of the day, this made sense at the time.

In 1989 and 1990, the bar made statewide news when it was raided by the Attorney General Marc Racicot for gambling violations.

The investigations led to lawsuits and battles so the bar could still offer its popular Super Bowl sports pools. The bar has faced a few closures, from 2003-2005, 2009-2011 and 2013-2015, but someone always brings it back to life.

While the M&M is no longer a 24-hour establishment, it is still very much a bustling local spot.

It was once known as the official headquarters for Butte's epic St. Patrick's Day celebrations. But even without an official holiday on the calendar, this place stays perpetually packed.

Aside from the seemingly endless selection of beer and cocktails, the bar serves some seriously tasty food.

They open daily for breakfast and serve delicious burgers and sandwiches late into the night.

It's nice to see such a beloved local treasure continue to thrive.

The M&M Bar and Cafe opens daily at 7 a.m. It closes at 1 a.m. on weekends, 9 p.m. on Sundays, and 10 p.m. the rest of the week.

The M&M is on the National Register of Historic Places. Check it out the next time you're exploring Butte.