Fort Benton in Chouteau County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)

Fort Benton Engine House

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 14, 2019

1. Fort Benton Engine House Marker

Inscription. The Fort Benton Engine House, built in 1883, and the Grand Union Hotel are two of only a few structures remaining to remind us of the rapid expansion here during the flourishing steamboat days. When Fort Benton incorporated in 1883, a volunteer fire department was organized and a contract let for $1,710 to build this engine house. By fall, the building was complete and thirty-five men organized into three companies of firemen were ready to drill—but the firefighting equipment wintered at Cow Island because the steamboat bringing it up the Missouri met low water at season’s end (not an uncommon situation). The gear was brought on to Fort Benton by ox wagon the following spring. This building served as City Hall for more than seventy-five years, until 1966, and from 1899 it housed the city jail. Its use today as a public meeting hall for service organizations recalls the past use as a center for social activities as well as for waiting firefighters.

Erected by Montana Historical Society; Department of the Interior, National Register of Historic Places.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed

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in these topic lists: Architecture • Charity & Public Work • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Montana National Register Sign Program series list.

Location. 47° 49.032′ N, 110° 40.043′ W. Marker is in Fort Benton, Montana, in Chouteau County. It is on Front Street near 15th Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1506 Front Street, Fort Benton MT 59442, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Central Montana, in Missouri River Country,

and specifically in Russell Country. It is also in the American Mountain West

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

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 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: First Fire Engine House (here, next to this marker); Fort Benton Bridge (within shouting distance of this marker); Masonic Building

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 14, 2019

2. Fort Benton Engine House Marker

The marker is located to the right of the Visitors Center entrance, on left.

(within shouting distance of this marker); June 6, 1908 (within shouting distance of this marker); Stream Flow Monitoring (within shouting distance of this marker); "George Montgomery: Rider of the Purple Sage" (within shouting distance of this marker); Open Range Cattle (within shouting distance of this marker); Pacific Hotel (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Benton.

More about this marker. This marker is located on the Fort Benton Visitors Center.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 14, 2019

3. Fort Benton Engine House Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on December 19, 2020. It was originally submitted on November 9, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 342 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 9, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.