Great Falls in Cascade County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
Twenty-eight Mile Station
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 15, 2022
1. Twenty-eight Mile Station Marker
Inscription.
Twenty-eight Mile Station. . Lieutenant John Mullan built a wagon road through this area in late July 1860. The 624-mile road connected the head of navigation on the Columbia River at Walla Walla, Washington Territory and Fort Benton, the world's innermost steamboat port on the upper Missouri River. With the discovery of gold in southwestern Montana in early 1860s, the road became an important freight and passenger route between Fort Benton and Helena. One of the stage stations was located near here and called Twenty-Eight Mile Station because it was that distance from Fort Benton. For the next twenty-one years, the station was an important stop on the Benton Road. For a while in the 1870s, the imposing two-story station was famous for the high quality of meals served there and the hospitality of its operator, Irish emigrant Edward Kelly. A decade later, however, the meals were much less appetizing, as one passenger recalled, "No excuse should condone for such nauseous 'provender.' With a feeling of disgust we bolted on to Bull's Head...." When the Montana Central Railroad was completed in 1887, the old stage line was abandoned and the station closed.
Lieutenant John Mullan built a wagon road through this area in late July 1860. The 624-mile road connected the head of navigation on the Columbia River at Walla Walla, Washington Territory and Fort Benton, the world's innermost steamboat port on the upper Missouri River. With the discovery of gold in southwestern Montana in early 1860s, the road became an important freight and passenger route between Fort Benton and Helena. One of the stage stations was located near here and called Twenty-Eight Mile Station because it was that distance from Fort Benton. For the next twenty-one years, the station was an important stop on the Benton Road. For a while in the 1870s, the imposing two-story station was famous for the high quality of meals served there and the hospitality of its operator, Irish emigrant Edward Kelly. A decade later, however, the meals were much less appetizing, as one passenger recalled, "No excuse should condone for such nauseous 'provender.' With a feeling of disgust we bolted on to Bull's Head...." When the Montana Central Railroad was completed in 1887, the old stage line was abandoned and the station closed.
Erected by Montana Department of Transportation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Roads & Vehicles.
Location.
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47° 34.115′ N, 111° 15.355′ W. Marker is in Great Falls, Montana, in Cascade County. Marker is on Morony Dam Road near U.S. 87, on the left when traveling east. The marker is located a small turn-out immediately east of U.S. Highway 87. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Great Falls MT 59404, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 2, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 2, 2024, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 42 times since then. Photos:1, 2. submitted on May 2, 2024, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.