Near Cardwell in Jefferson County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)

LaHood Park

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 10, 2013

1. LaHood Park Marker

Inscription. In August 1840, Pierre Jean De Smet, a Catholic missionary of Belgian birth, camped near the mouth of the Boulder River with the Salish Indians and celebrated the holy sacrifice of the Mass. Father De Smet left the Indians soon after to go to St. Louis. He returned the following year and established the original St. Mary’s Mission in the Bitter Root Valley, hereditary home of the Salish. Fearless and zealous, his many experiences during the pioneer days have been chronicled and form a most interesting chapter in the frontier annals of Montana.

Nearly ninety years later, in 1928, Shadan “Dan” LaHood built a hotel, gas station, and auto camp here to take advantage of tourist traffic on the newly opened highway through the Jefferson River Canyon. Five years after building the hotel, he added several motel units and a roadside cafe to his operation. A tireless supporter of President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal relief programs, LaHood donated the land adjacent to the hotel for a Civilian Conservation Corps camp in the 1930s. The boys based at the CCC camp improved access to and within Lewis and Clark Caverns, making it one of Montana's premier attractions. LaHood’s hotel burned to the ground in 2001.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work

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• Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Parks & Recreational Areas • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is August 1840.

Location. 45° 51.194′ N, 111° 55.32′ W. Marker is near Cardwell, Montana, in Jefferson County. It is on State Highway 2 3½ miles south of Interstate 90, on the left when traveling south. Marker is located in a pull-out and parking area on the east side of the highway. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 960 Montana Highway 2, Cardwell MT 59721, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Montana, in Gold West Country, in Mining Country and in Greater Helena.

It is also in the American Mountain West

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 6 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Lewis & Clark Expedition (here, next to this marker); Bighorns no More? (approx. 2.8 miles away); Lean Times Ahead (approx. 2.8 miles away); Lewis and Clark Caverns Entrance Building (approx. 4 miles away); American Legion Fish Pond (approx. 8.6 miles away); Modern Hotel (approx. 8.6 miles away).

More about this marker. This is a large, painted wooden "billboard-style" marker, hanging from a heavy-duty wooden frame.

Also see . . . From Private Tourism to National Monument to State Park.

LaHood Park Marker (<i>wide view</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 10, 2013

2. LaHood Park Marker (wide view)

Shadan Lahood, a Cardwell merchant and land owner, was very interested in the development of the caverns. It was through his efforts and offer of property that a Civilian Conservation Corps camp was established in the area and dedicated to furthering the development of the caverns. From the summer of 1935 until the summer of 1941 there were 175 to 200 young men working in or around the cave. (Submitted on January 7, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Additional commentary.
1.
This Historical Marker Sign ends with “... LaHood’s hotel burned to the ground in 2001,” leading us to expect all was GONE. However, the latest Google Street Views (Sept 2024), Show a very much original 1928 appearance motel building, complete with a Big Announcement sign, AND by the highway another big sign saying “Historic Point”.

So, It looks to me that this is the Real McCoy. What do you think? Note To Editor only visible by Contributor and editor

— Submitted September 1, 2025, by Henry Sater Gurr of Aiken, South Carolina.

LaHood Park Marker (<i>wide view showing related marker on left</i>) image. Click for full size.

3. LaHood Park Marker (wide view showing related marker on left)

Jefferson River Canyon, Montana State Highway 2 (<i>just south of the marker</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 10, 2013

4. Jefferson River Canyon, Montana State Highway 2 (just south of the marker)

LaHood Steakhouse (<i>located across highway from the marker, on LaHood's old hotel site</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 10, 2013

5. LaHood Steakhouse (located across highway from the marker, on LaHood's old hotel site)

Credits. This page was last revised on October 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 7, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,409 times since then and 89 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on January 7, 2019, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.