The oldest hard rock mine in Butte, the Travona was the site of a major silver discovery in January of 1875 by William Farlin that launched Butte into a new era of mining prosperity. The mine closed in 1893 due to the repeal of the Sherman Silver Purchase Act and the resulting plunge in silver prices. William A Clark secured exclusive ownership by 1904. The property was sold to the ACM Co. in 1929.
Manganese began to be mined in the late teens of the Twentieth century. The mine was also operated as a silver mine off and on until 1942 when extensive manganese reserves were removed to support the war effort. The current steel headframe was moved to the site from the Pennsylvania Mine in 1940.