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. 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

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Department of Transportation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Roads & Vehicles.

Location. 47° 34.115′ N, 111° 15.355′ W. Marker is in Great Falls, Montana, in Cascade County. It 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.

Regionally, this marker is in andspecifically entral Montana in Russell Country. It is also in the American Mountain West

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

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 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Great Falls of the Missouri River (here, next to this marker); The Smallest River Runs Through It (approx. 2.6 miles away); Where Does the Water Come From?

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 15, 2022

2. Twenty-eight Mile Station Marker

(approx. 2.7 miles away); These Springs Have Witnessed... (approx. 2.7 miles away); Pure Springs Along the Missouri River (approx. 2.7 miles away); Giant Fountain (approx. 2.7 miles away); Of Special Concern (approx. 2.7 miles away); One of Many Firsts (approx. 2.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Great Falls.

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 371 times since then and 53 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 2, 2024, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.