If you grew up in Butte, you’ve certainly heard about its most famous resident. Evel Knievel was a stunt performer, entertainer, and daredevil known nationwide for his impressive, record-breaking motorcycle jumps. While it (thankfully) wasn’t one of his stunts that led to his demise, Evel Knievel passed away in 2007, but did you know he’s buried right here in Montana, in his hometown of Butte?

Evel Knievel was born Robert Craig Knievel in 1938.
Jasperdo / Flickr
Knievel and his brother were raised by their paternal grandparents, Ignatius and Emma Knievel, after their parents divorced and decided to leave Butte.
Evel left Butte High School after his sophomore year and got a job in the copper mines, but that didn't last long.
Sean Savage / Flickr
He was fired when he made the mine's earth mover do a motorcycle-type wheelie and drove it right into Butte's main power line, leaving the city without electricity for several hours. If you've ever been fired from a job, at least it (most likely) wasn't because you deprived an entire city of power.
Evel performed his first stunt in the 1960s, but he had always been known as a daredevil.
Wikipedia
He went on to break records with his stunts, jumping the fountains of Caesars Palace in Las Vegas and Snake River Canyon, among others. The 1974 Snake River Canyon jump was one of his most famous stunts.

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Evel earned himself national fame and notoriety.
Docob5 / Wikipedia
Between 1972 and 1977, Ideal Toy Company released a series of Evel Knievel-related merchandise, selling about $125 million worth of toys.
Evel's health started to decline in the late 1990s, which was something he talked openly about.
Orin Blomberg / Flickr
After suffering from diabetes and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis for many years, he died in November of 2007 at the age of 69. Actor Matthew McConaughey gave the eulogy at his funeral. He was buried at Mountain View Cemetery in Butte.
Evel Knievel is still celebrated to this day.
Danemroberts / Wikipedia
In 2010, a special temporary exhibit entitled True Evel: The Amazing Story of Evel Knievel was opened at the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee. In 2017, the Evel Knievel Museum opened in Kansas. Many people have tried to copy his stunts, although few have been successful.

Learn more about visiting Evel Knievel’s grave here.

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