Fort Benton in Chouteau County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
Upriver Businesses
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 22, 2020
1. Upriver Businesses Marker
Inscription.
Upriver Businesses. . Back from the levee that was cluttered with their freight and warehouses stood the uptown merchant's establishments. Carroll and Steell founded the first mercantile in 1864. Murphy, Neil and Co., Kleinschmidt Bros. and W.S. Wetzel built here as well as the Overland Hotel and Wells Fargo Stage Office. I.G. Baker and T.C. Power set up businesses and built the Chouteau House down river near the fort. A keen rivalry began between the two business districts along Front Street. Saloons, dance halls and brothels soon filled the intervening blocks. , Location of the bridge was a compromise between the two districts. Both uptown and downtown merchants owned large-scale freighting outfits and literally sold everything. Some even owned steamboat lines. From 1864 to 1890 they competed heavily for the flourishing trade throughout Montana and Canada, and contributed the lion's share to the growth of the Northwest.
Back from the levee that was cluttered with their freight and warehouses stood the uptown merchant's establishments. Carroll and Steell founded the first mercantile in 1864. Murphy, Neil and Co., Kleinschmidt Bros. and W.S. Wetzel built here as well as the Overland Hotel and Wells Fargo Stage Office. I.G. Baker and T.C. Power set up businesses and built the Chouteau House down river near the fort. A keen rivalry began between the two business districts along Front Street. Saloons, dance halls and brothels soon filled the intervening blocks.
Location of the bridge was a compromise between the two districts. Both uptown and downtown merchants owned large-scale freighting outfits and literally sold everything. Some even owned steamboat lines. From 1864 to 1890 they competed heavily for the flourishing trade throughout Montana and Canada, and contributed the lion's share to the growth of the Northwest.
Erected by Fort Benton Chamber of Commerce.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce.
Location. 47° 48.901′ N, 110° 40.125′ W.
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Marker is in Fort Benton, Montana, in Chouteau County. It is on River Street near 12th Street, on the right when traveling north. The marker is located on the river front pathway between Missouri Breaks Interpretive Center and the historic downtown business district. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: 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 Ruperts Land and also the Louisiana Purchase.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 4, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 4, 2020, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 268 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on December 4, 2020, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
