Western, ND Fort Peck, Fort Benton, Mt
Picture Set [1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8], [9]
At Fort Benton, Mt. another Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center exists. A view of the
Missouri behind the center.
Fort Benton was in use from 1846 through 1865 as a trading post. After that it was used by the
military until 1881 when the Indian Wars ended. It has been reconstructed; one of the blockhouses
is now considered to be the oldest building in Montana.
Pedestrian bridge over the river; it was initially built as a toll bridge.
Fort Benton must have been a wild town back in the day. These buildings were part of the
Bloodiest Block in the West. At one point it was surrounded by U.S. Troops so U.S. Marshals could
serve warrants on five residents.
Great Fall, Mt. Lewis and Clark was warned of a great falls along the Missouri. They assumed it
would be one fall that would result in a short portage. They result was an 18 mile portage taking
several days. This is Beautiful Falls and Rainbow Dam.
Just downriver from Beautiful Falls is Crooked Falls.
Black Eagle Falls and Dam. Five dams have been built in this stretch to control the river.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has a Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in Great Falls.
Inside is a two-story display of a portion of the portage.
The source of the Missouri is in the Missouri Headwaters State Park, near Three Forks, Mt. The
Jefferson River enters from the top; the Madison River enters from the left; the Missouri is
the combined flow going out the right. As in the other confluences the high water ruins the
view. This picture was taken from bank at the confluence.
Another view of the confluence from a hilltop maybe a quarter mile away.
The city name of Three Forks comes from the Missouri river being formed by three rivers
coming together to form the Missouri. The Gallatin river is the third fork and enters
the Missouri about a half mile downriver from the confluence of the Jefferson and Madison rivers.
A view of the Gallatin entering the Missouri from the right.
Picture Set [1], [2], [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8], [9]
Home Page / Previous-years-index / 2011-index