Fort Benton, MT

Photo: NPS

Fort Benton, Montana is often referred to as the “birthplace of Montana.” And for good reason – it’s the first permanent settlement in the Montana territory.

The men of the Expedition knew the area as a rendezvous point – it’s where Captain Lewis and his small party reconnected with Sergeant Ordway’s group in July 1806. And it’s not far from the confluence of the Marias River with the Missouri, where the entire Expedition spent about 10 days in 1805.

Fort Benton was founded in 1846 as an outpost of the American Fur Company and it remained an economic hub for decades. Here is where the steamboats of the mid-19th century dropped their goods after the long trek up the Missouri.

When railroads were firmly established in the 1880s and 1890s, the need to reach Fort Benton via the river ended, and the town faded from national economic prominence.

Today, the historic town is the starting point for the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument where the wild and scenic Missouri flows through the Montana prairies, White Cliffs, and badlands. You’ll find a wonderful Interpretive Center here where you can learn all about the river and surrounding area. Operated by the Bureau of Land Management, the center is open May 1 through October 31.