Fort Benton A Montana Treasure

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Fort BentonA Montana Treasure
The history of the West is a rich theme at Fort
Benton. Known as the Birthplace of Montana
Fort Benton is a small town with a large
heritage. It lures history buffs as well as
canoeists wanting to float the National Wild and
Scenic Upper Missouri River. Located along the
Lewis Clark National Historic Trail, and at the
westernmost navigable point along the Missouri
River, Fort Benton gained fame as a robe trading
post and inland steamboat port. As the terminus
for the 624 mile long Mullan Wagon Road, which
linked the Missouri with the Columbia River at
Walla Walla, Fort Benton became a gateway to the
west. The discovery of gold in what was to become
Montana and Idaho brought fortune hunters and
outlaws, merchants and madams to the riverside
town. The coming of the railroad years later
signaled the end of its boom era. This once
feisty outpost played such a vital role in the
expansion of the West, it is now a National
Historic Landmark.
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Fort Benton Levee 1868
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Outbound Freight
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Fort Benton Levee during the Gold Rush
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Fort Benton Is the Gateway to the Missouri River
Breaks National Monument
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And The Wild Scenic Upper Missouri River
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Visitors Can Stroll the Interpreted Levee and
Learn About Fort Benton's heyday As a Brawling
Wild West Settlement
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Lower Levee
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Mullan Trail Monument, Interpretive Signage and
the Keelboat Mandan along the lower levee
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Upper Levee
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Walking Bridge
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Old Fire Hall - Visitors Information Center
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Shep Memorial
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Grand Union Hotel
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State of Montanas Lewis Clark Memorial
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Fort Benton Blockhouseand Reconstructed
Buildings
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Fort Benton Main Gate
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Fort Bentons first museum - The Museum of the
Upper Missouri
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Museum of the Upper Missouri DisplayChief
Josephs Surrender Rifle
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Museum of the Upper Missouri DisplayDecision at
Marias River
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Museum of the Upper Missouri DisplayTrappers
Cabin
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Fort Bentons Newest Museum - The Museum of the
Northern Great Plains
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Museum of the Northern Great Plains Entry
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Museum of the Northern Great Plains Display
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Museum of the Northern Great PlainsDisplay
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Museum of the Northern Great PlainsDisplay
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Homesteader VillageMuseum of the Northern Great
Plains exterior grounds
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Homesteader Village
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Hornaday - Smithsonian Bison Display At the
Museum of the Northern Great Plains
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Many of our Riverboat era buildings are still in
use including the Chouteau County Courthouse
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St. Pauls Episcopal Church
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Fort Benton..still a feisty little town!