Fort Benton in Chouteau County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
I.G. Baker Home
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 14, 2019
1. I.G. Baker Home Marker
Inscription.
I.G. Baker Home. . From the 1850s to 1887, Fort Benton was the trade center for this region of the American and Canadian West. Like others who chose to stay when the fur trade declined, I.G. Baker (last American Fur Company factor at the fort) turned to new endeavors. Through the 1870s and 1880s, I.G. Baker Company was Montana's largest mercantile enterprise. But when the company began in 1895-1866, Baker and his brother George had only a log store along the levee. Baker's wife joined him in 1867, and he began to construct this home–then a two-room adobe with a sod roof. In it , Montana Territory's Acting Governor Thomas F. Meagher ate his last meal before his mysterious drowning in 1867. Sometime in the next decade, two rooms to the rear were added and metal replaced the sod roof. In 1876, a second remodeling added clapboard siding, a shingle roof, and the front portico. The from room on the left became as it appears today. The mercantile Conrad family also called this building home, and it once was used as officers quarters for the fort.
From the 1850s to 1887, Fort Benton was the trade center for this region of the American and Canadian West. Like others who chose to stay when the fur trade declined, I.G. Baker (last American Fur Company factor at the fort) turned to new endeavors. Through the 1870s and 1880s, I.G. Baker Company was Montana's largest mercantile enterprise. But when the company began in 1895-1866, Baker and his brother George had only a log store along the levee. Baker's wife joined him in 1867, and he began to construct this home–then a two-room adobe with a sod roof. In it , Montana Territory's Acting Governor Thomas F. Meagher ate his last meal before his mysterious drowning in 1867. Sometime in the next decade, two rooms to the rear were added and metal replaced the sod roof. In 1876, a second remodeling added clapboard siding, a shingle roof, and the front portico. The from room on the left became as it appears today. The mercantile Conrad family also called this building home, and it once was used as officers quarters for the fort.
Erected by Montana Historical Society; Department of the Interior, National Register of Historic Places.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Architecture
Location. 47° 49.133′ N, 110° 39.976′ W. Marker is in Fort Benton, Montana, in Chouteau County. Marker is on Front Street near 16th Street, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1604 Front Street, Fort Benton MT 59442, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 19, 2020. It was originally submitted on November 3, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 148 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on November 3, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
