Billings in Yellowstone County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
Lewis and Clark Yellowstone River Journey
Photographed by Janice Hand, circa July, 2017
1. Lewis and Clark Yellowstone River Journey marker site.
Captain Clark, of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, passed down the river opposite this point July 24, 1806.
Erected 1924 by Daughters of the American Revolution, Shining Mountain Chapter.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), and the Lewis & Clark Expedition series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is July 24, 1806.
Location. 45° 48.007′ N, 108° 28.683′ W. Marker is in Billings, Montana, in Yellowstone County. It is on 6th Avenue North. Marker is located on the right of the Montana Pro Rodeo Wall of Fame, in front of the Rimrock Auto Arena. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 308 6th Avenue North, Billings MT 59101, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Montana’s Yellowstone 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
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Boothill Cemetery (approx. 0.2 miles away); Skeleton Cliff (approx. 0.3 miles away); a different marker also named The Place Where the White Horse Went Down (approx. 0.4 miles away); Where the River Meets the Rims (approx. half a mile away); The Nomadic Experience (approx. half a mile away); Luther Sage "Yellowstone" Kelly (approx. half a mile away); Yellowstone Kelly's Grave (approx. half a mile away); Surely this spot was meant for Yellowstone Kelley (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Billings.
Another marker is no longer nearby. The Place Where the White Horse Went Down (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been permanently removed).
Regarding Lewis and Clark Yellowstone River Journey. This marker was originally erected October 7, 1924 to commemorate Lewis and Clark's journey down the Yellowstone River at a point which they passed near present day Billings on July 24, 1806 on their return trip from the Pacific Coast. It was a bronze marker placed on a granite rock at the Midland Empire Fair Grounds in Billings.
In 1969, a fire destroyed the Midland Empire Fair Exposition Hall and melted the original DAR bronze tablet. The Yellowstone Metra, which replaced the former fairground building, was built in the 1970s.
On October 8, 1979, the Shining Mountain Chapter DAR presented a duplicate of the original plaque placed in another boulder near the west doors of the new fairgrounds building. That is the marker that stands now.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 5, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 30, 2020, by Janice Hand of Bozeman, Montana. This page has been viewed 528 times since then and 22 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on January 30, 2020, by Janice Hand of Bozeman, Montana. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
Editor’s want-list for this marker. Picture of the marker within its surroundings • Can you help?
