Fort Benton
Over the ensuing century, Fort Benton emerged as a crucial hub for trade, with goods being unloaded at the navigable end of the Missouri River and then transported westward by wagon. However, flood control measures and other initiatives in the 1940s shifted the head of navigation on the Missouri River to Sioux City, while the Great Northern Railroad became the primary mode of transportation to Fort Benton. Despite this change, the town's historical significance remains palpable, with the railroad tracks now terminating just south of Fort Benton.
One of the prime vantage points to observe the Missouri River and historic Fort Benton is Signal Point, a sandstone bluff located north of town. In bygone days, spotters would catch sight of steamboats chugging up the river from this elevated perch, heralding their arrival with the cry, "round the bend!" Today, Signal Point offers breathtaking views of the mighty Missouri, Fort Benton, the Bear's Paw Mountains to the northeast, and the Highwoods to the southeast.
The area has witnessed significant historical events, including the passage of the Corps of Discovery led by Captains Lewis and Clark on July 13, 1805. In 1845, Alexander Culbertson of the American Fur Company established Fort Lewis, a trading post upstream from the present-day Fort Benton. However, due to challenges posed by ice jams and floods, the post was relocated to its current site in 1847, marking the birth of Montana's oldest continuing settlement.
Originally named Fort Clay, the settlement was renamed Fort Benton on Christmas Day 1850, in honor of Senator Thomas Hart Benton, a patron of the American Fur Company. Rapidly evolving into a bustling frontier town, Fort Benton gained a reputation as the "Chicago of the plains," serving as a gateway for gold hunters, adventurers, traders, and fugitives from justice.
The Missouri River Steamboat Era, spanning from 1859 to 1888, breathed new life into Fort Benton as steamboats became the primary mode of transportation. The arrival of The Chippewa from St. Louis on July 2, 1860, marked the beginning of this colorful period, during which an average of 20 boats per year navigated the Missouri River to reach Fort Benton.
The discovery of gold in western Montana attracted a wave of prospectors and freight to the territory, with Missouri steamboats serving as the most practical means of transportation. The town thrived as a bustling trade center, with the levee bustling from spring thaw until fall freeze with goods destined for the gold camps of southwest Montana. Fort Benton served as the anchor of the 625-mile-long Mullan Road, completed in 1860, which connected the town to Walla Walla, Washington, and served as a vital artery for travelers heading westward.
Over the ensuing century, Fort Benton emerged as a crucial hub for trade, with goods being unloaded at the navigable end of the Missouri River and then transported westward by wagon. However, flood control measures and other initiatives in the 1940s shifted the head of navigation on the Missouri River to Sioux City, while the Great Northern Railroad became the primary mode of transportation to Fort Benton. Despite this change, the town's historical significance remains palpable, with the railroad tracks now terminating just south of Fort Benton.
One of the prime vantage points to observe the Missouri River and historic Fort Benton is Signal Point, a sandstone bluff located north of town. In bygone days, spotters would catch sight of steamboats chugging up the river from this elevated perch, heralding their arrival with the cry, "round the bend!" Today, Signal Point offers breathtaking views of the mighty Missouri, Fort Benton, the Bear's Paw Mountains to the northeast, and the Highwoods to the southeast.
The area has witnessed significant historical events, including the passage of the Corps of Discovery led by Captains Lewis and Clark on July 13, 1805. In 1845, Alexander Culbertson of the American Fur Company established Fort Lewis, a trading post upstream from the present-day Fort Benton. However, due to challenges posed by ice jams and floods, the post was relocated to its current site in 1847, marking the birth of Montana's oldest continuing settlement.
Originally named Fort Clay, the settlement was renamed Fort Benton on Christmas Day 1850, in honor of Senator Thomas Hart Benton, a patron of the American Fur Company. Rapidly evolving into a bustling frontier town, Fort Benton gained a reputation as the "Chicago of the plains," serving as a gateway for gold hunters, adventurers, traders, and fugitives from justice.
The Missouri River Steamboat Era, spanning from 1859 to 1888, breathed new life into Fort Benton as steamboats became the primary mode of transportation. The arrival of The Chippewa from St. Louis on July 2, 1860, marked the beginning of this colorful period, during which an average of 20 boats per year navigated the Missouri River to reach Fort Benton.
The discovery of gold in western Montana attracted a wave of prospectors and freight to the territory, with Missouri steamboats serving as the most practical means of transportation. The town thrived as a bustling trade center, with the levee bustling from spring thaw until fall freeze with goods destined for the gold camps of southwest Montana. Fort Benton served as the anchor of the 625-mile-long Mullan Road, completed in 1860, which connected the town to Walla Walla, Washington, and served as a vital artery for travelers heading westward.
