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

Keelboat Mandan

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 14, 2019

1. Keelboat Mandan Marker

Inscription.
Keelboats antedated steamboats and used every kind of power–chiefly man–except steam. Propelling them was no idle pastime. The usual method was to set long ash poles on the river bottom, toe the cleated walk and push hard, bow to stern. Crew also stumbled along the bank at the end of a cable. Favoring breezes thankfully indicated a sail.
The keelboat speed record, a brisk 110 miles in 61 days, was set in 1811 by a select crew of Manual Lisa, an impatient character. South Dakota winds chased his vessel clear around the Great Bend below Pierre for 75 miles in a long day. In the enclosed cabin keelboats carried beads, whiskey and other goods traded for beaver and buffalo robes at Indian posts along the Missouri,

Erected by Fort Benton Community Improvement Association.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels.

Location. 47° 49.173′ N, 110° 39.89′ W. Marker is in Fort Benton, Montana, in Chouteau County. Marker is on Front Street near 17th Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1730 Front Street, Fort Benton MT 59442, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Mullan Wagon Road (within shouting distance of this marker); The Montana Memorial

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(within shouting distance of this marker); T.C. Power & Bro. (within shouting distance of this marker); T.C. Power Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Drowning of the Governor (within shouting distance of this marker); Thomas Francis Meager (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Benton – Fort MacLeod Trail (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); H.J. Wackerlin Hardware Company (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Benton.

More about this marker. The Mandan is located at Fort Benton's riverside park.

Also see . . .
1. The King of Frontier River Transport. Frontier Times website entry (Submitted on March 18, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2. Saving the Mandan: The near death of a historic Montana symbol. Foundation for Montana History website entry (Submitted on March 18, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Before the Steamboats, on the back of the marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 14, 2019

2. Before the Steamboats, on the back of the marker

Captions: (upper left) Keelboat by Harvey W. Johnson; (upper right) Cordelling by Dave Parchen; (bottom left and center) Keelboat Mandan in the movie "Big Sky;" (bottom right) Cordelling flatboats.

Keelboat <i>Mandan</i> image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 14, 2019

3. Keelboat Mandan

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 14, 2019

4. Keelboat Mandan

Keelboat <i>Mandan</i> in The Big Sky image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Rko

5. Keelboat Mandan in The Big Sky

Davy Crockett and the Keelboat Race image. Click for full size.

Photographed By FessParkerFanPage

6. Davy Crockett and the Keelboat Race

Mike Fink keelboats at Disneyland image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Yesterland.com

7. Mike Fink keelboats at Disneyland

Credits. This page was last revised on March 18, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 6, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 611 times since then and 55 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on November 6, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.