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

I.G. Baker Company

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 14, 2019

1. I.G. Baker Company Marker

Inscription. Stores, warehouses and homes belonging to Montana's greatest trading company were along this side street. Founded in 1866, I.G. Baker Co.'s freight wagons cut deep trails into western history. From northern Canada along routes in all directions, the I.G. Baker Co. was the giant among mercantile businesses.
Run by the Conrad brothers, the company went into banking, transportation and distilleries. Indians trapped for them on the Great Slave Lake, miners and Indians guzzled their booze, and all bought staples from their stories. They were paymasters for the Mounties, ran their own steamboat line, and peddled their goods for buffalo robes, wolf skins and gold dust.
The I.G. Baker firm carried so much weight in the North that when the Hudson Bay Co. bought Baker's Canadian stores in 1891, a Bay Co. director drank a gleeful toast to the end of a firm that "cut our dividends from pounds to shillings."

Erected by Fort Benton Community Improvement Association.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce.

Location. 47° 49.091′ N, 110° 39.993′ W. Marker is in Fort Benton, Montana, in Chouteau County. Marker is on Front Street near 16th Street, on the right when traveling

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north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: 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. Bloodiest Block in the West (within shouting distance of this marker); McGraw's Saloon (within shouting distance of this marker); Cummings Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Fort Benton Bridge (within shouting distance of this marker); Fire! Fire! (within shouting distance of this marker); Culbertson House (within shouting distance of this marker); I.G. Baker Home (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Open Range Cattle (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Benton.

More about this marker. This marker is located in Fort Benton's riverside park.

I.G. Baker and Company Marker, inverse image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 14, 2019

2. I.G. Baker and Company Marker, inverse

Captions: (top left) W.G. Conrad and C.E. Conrad; (top center) First Store –1866; (top right) New Brick Store – 1878; (bottom) The Baker Empire along Baker Street including the Benton Record building.

Fort Benton Front Street image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 14, 2019

3. Fort Benton Front Street

Credits. This page was last revised on November 7, 2019. It was originally submitted on November 7, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 309 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 7, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.