Great Falls in Cascade County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
Commissary of the Plains
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, July 8, 2013
1. Commissary of the Plains Marker
Lewis and Clark commented on the numbers of buffalo carcasses they found in the Missouri River near here. Buffalo often died from falls off the eroding river cliffs or from drowning when animals in the rear of the herd pressed the buffalo at the river’s edge into the strong current.
”In this plain were infinitely more Buffaloe than I have ever before witnessed”
Meriwether Lewis
Erected by Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Exploration. In addition, it is included in the Lewis & Clark Expedition series list.
Location. 47° 29.541′ N, 111° 18.405′ W. Marker is in Great Falls, Montana, in Cascade County. Marker can be reached from Overlook Drive south of 10th Avenue South (Business Interstate 15), on the right when traveling west. Marker is located beside the sidewalk, on the north side of the parking lot, in Broadwater Overlook Park, overlooking
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Falls: Obstacle or Opportunity (here, next to this marker); The Portage Around the Falls (here, next to this marker); Explorers at the Portage (a few steps from this marker); Arvon Block (approx. 0.8 miles away); Bus Depot and Garage (approx. 0.9 miles away); Murphy Maclay Hardware Store (approx. 0.9 miles away); Union Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church (approx. 0.9 miles away); New Park Hotel (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Great Falls.
More about this marker. Marker is a large composite plaque, mounted horizontally on waist-high metal posts. This is the left-most marker of a three-marker exhibit at this location.
Also see . . .
1. Lewis and Clark in Great Falls. Located on the Missouri River near a series of five waterfalls, Great Falls is the largest city in north central Montana. In 1805, the Lewis and Clark Expedition spent nearly a month portaging the falls. Several of the waterfalls may be viewed via the eleven-mile paved, non-motorized River's Edge Trail. It was near Great Falls that Lewis identified the cutthroat trout (Montana's state fish), the western meadowlark (Montana's state bird), and the broadleaf
Courtesy C.M. Russell Museum, Great Falls, Montana
2. Marker detail: “Upper Missouri in 1840” by Charlie Russell
In 1902 Charlie Russell painted “Upper Missouri in 1840” based on a story that was told to him by a close friend. Lewis and Clark saw similar scenes throughout their journey.
2. River’s Edge Trail map. Broadwater Overlook Park is near the south trailhead for the Great Falls River's Edge Trail. This is one of many historical markers to be found along the River's Edge Trail. (Submitted on November 20, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
3. Commissary of the Plains Marker (view from Broadwater Overlook parking lot; marker on left)
Credits. This page was last revised on November 26, 2018. It was originally submitted on November 18, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 162 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 20, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
