Near Craig in Lewis and Clark County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
Join the Voyage of Discovery
Lewis and Clark in Montana
Nations in Transformation
The 19th century brought tumult to North America. Indian nations, recovering from five waves of smallpox, pushed west as Europeans raced to conquer more territories. Though others had explored, traded and trapped in the Northern Plains, Lewis and Clark were the first to come for military, scientific and economic development reasons. Their expedition defined agendas and relationships that people of the West are still sorting out - between different cultures, and between people and the land.
The Corps of Discovery included Indians, French, Euro-Americans, men of mixed European and Indian decent, one black, a woman and a baby. Indian people of many nations fed, guided and helped the Corps with few violent altercations. Montana today is a land of many cultures, and its diversity is part of our region's identity.
In what we now call Montana, Lewis and Clark explored 1,900 miles of wilderness, catalogued 63 species of plants and animals new to science, and charted significant geographic features. Seven the these are National Historic Landmarks and Monuments: Pompeys Pillar, the Great Falls Portage, the Three Forks of the Missouri, Lemhi Pass, Lolo Pass, Traveller's Rest, and the Upper Missouri Breaks.
There are still places in Montana where you may see landscape, wildlife and native plants just as the Corps described in their journals: rich, raw and full of possibilities. You can also see evidence of cultural cooperation, conflicts and collisions in values that have defined the West for two centuries.
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Discovery, for all travelers, is a deeply personal and universally human experience. In the larger sense, Montana is continually discovered, its cultures are always transforming, and each of us is explorer, witness and storyteller.
Montana welcomes you to make discoveries of your own in this rich landscape. Please respect private property, help preserve out public lands and abundant wildlife and celebrate with us the mix of people who call Montana home.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Exploration. In addition, it is included in the Lewis & Clark Expedition series list.
Location. 47° 7.949′ N, 111° 54.069′ W. Marker is near Craig, Montana, in Lewis and Clark County. Marker is on Interstate 15 at milepost 240 near Bald Eagle Drive, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Wolf Creek MT 59648, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. "nearer than the route we Came" (within shouting distance of this marker); Bighorned Animals (within shouting distance of this marker); Continuing the Journey (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); Dearborn's River (about 600 feet away); Michael John MacKinnon (about 600 feet away); "Cliffs High and Steep" (about 700 feet away); The Dearborn – Ancient Interstate Highway (approx. half a mile away); Remembering Governor Forrest H. Anderson (approx. 5 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Craig.
More about this marker. This marker is located at the Southbound Dearborn Rest Area on Interstate 15.
This marker may be found at several other locations also.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 29, 2019. It was originally submitted on October 29, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 177 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 29, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.