West Glacier in Flathead County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)

Historic Belton Depot

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 30, 2024

1. Historic Belton Depot Marker

Inscription. To visit Glacier National Park before 1930, you would have arrived on the Great Northern Railway, Buckboards waited at the Belton Depot to carry tourists over a nearly impassable road through swampy redcedar forest to the foot of Lake McDonald. At steamboat made the trip uptake. After a night at the Lewis Hotel, intrepid guests road horseback into the mountain vastness.

Genevieve Walsh Gudger described her first trip to Lake McDonald in 1900:
"Half asleep, we were pushed off of the train at Belton. The road to the foot of the Lake was a slender ribbon, the trees so close that my father, standing in the open coach, pulled white and brown moss from the trees for me. The wagon trip was deep with needles and moss that the hooves of the horses make only a gentle clop-clop as they sped along."

Erected by National Park Service.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Natural Features • Parks & Recreational Areas • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1930.

Location. 48° 29.796′ N, 113° 58.713′ W. Marker is in West Glacier, Montana, in Flathead County.

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It can be reached from U.S. 2 near Going to the Sun Road, on the left when traveling east. The marker is on the track-side of the depot. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lake Mc Donald MT 59921, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Western Montana

and in Glacier 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 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Belton Chalet (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Legend of Hungry Horse (approx. 8.6 miles away); Hungry Horse Clearing Ball (approx. 8.6 miles away); A Glacial Lake (approx. 9.1 miles away); Time Machines (approx. 9½ miles away); Wilderness Architecture (approx. 9½ miles away); Historic Boats (approx. 9½ miles away); Surrounded by Wilderness (approx. 9½ miles away). Touch for a list and map

Historic Belton Depot and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 30, 2024

2. Historic Belton Depot and Marker

The marker is to the right of the red door.

of all markers in West Glacier.

Historic Belton Depot image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 30, 2024

3. Historic Belton Depot

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 30, 2024

4. Historic Belton Depot

Credits. This page was last revised on August 25, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 25, 2024, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 307 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 25, 2024, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.