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

Cummings Building

Fort Benton Historic District

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 22, 2020

1. Cummings Building Marker

Inscription. Originally this site was occupied by a wooden frame building that housed Mose Solomon’s Medicine Lodge. This legendary saloon was open twenty-four hours a day from spring thaw to first snow. When the building burned, prominent lawyer, customs collector, insurance agent, and stockman Thomas Cummings replaced it with this two-story brick structure. Cummings sold out and the building then housed a Chinese restaurant and emporium with an opium den in the basement until the turn of the twentieth century.

Erected by Montana Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Entertainment • Industry & Commerce • Science & Medicine. In addition, it is included in the Montana National Register Sign Program series list.

Location. 47° 49.066′ N, 110° 40.034′ W. Marker is in Fort Benton, Montana, in Chouteau County. It is on Front Street near 15th Street, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1510 Front Street, Fort Benton MT 59442, United States of

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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: Fire! Fire! (a few steps from this marker); Old Fort Benton Bridge (a few steps from this marker); McGraw's Saloon (a few steps from this marker); Pacific Hotel (a few steps from this marker); Open Range Cattle (within shouting distance of this marker); Bloodiest Block in the West (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Benton Bridge (within shouting distance of this marker); Culbertson House (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Benton.

Cummings Building and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 22, 2020

2. Cummings Building and Marker

The marker is on the right side of the Liquor Store.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 19, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 4, 2020, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 251 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 4, 2020, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.