Lewis and Clark Trail 1806
First important gold camp 1862
Scene of vigilante activities 1863
First capital Territory of Montana 1864-1865
First county seat of Beaverhead County 1864-1881
In grateful memory of the early pioneers who . . . — — Map (db m49535) HM
On Interstate 15 at milepost 55 near Rebich Lane, on the right when traveling south.
Montana's first gold rush began near here at Grasshopper Creek in the summer of 1862. Prospectors John White and company camped along the insect infested banks as they looked for a shortcut to the Deer Lodge valley. They panned the gravel - as was . . . — — Map (db m124290) HM
On MT 278 West, on the right when traveling north.
Lewis and Clark Trail 1806. First Important Gold Camp 1862. Scene of Vigilante Activities 1863. First Capital Territory of Montana 1864-1865. First County Seat of Beaverhead County 1864-1881. In grateful memory of the early pioneers who founded our . . . — — Map (db m145711) HM
Near Bannack Road (State Highway 278), on the left when traveling east.
Bannack epitomizes the tough, primitive towns that sprang up with gold discoveries. Its story also illustrates a century of survival, through boom and bust periods associated with resource extraction and technological advances. On July 28, 1862, . . . — — Map (db m124262) HM
The waters of the Beaverhead River opened this southern gateway to Montana through which have passed:
Ancient Indian Trail
Lewis and Clark Expedition 1805-1806
First Missionary, Father DeSmet 1840
Great Beaverhead Wagon Toll Road . . . — — Map (db m145713) HM
On North Montana Street (Business Interstate 15) at State Highway 91, on the left when traveling north on North Montana Street.
This Plaque and Chimes Installed to the Glory of God in Memory of Beaverhead County Boys Who Gave Their Lives in World War II
Raymond Arrigoni • James Barlow • William Bender • Phil Burke • Thomas Butler • Frank Buyan • LaRue Cantrell . . . — — Map (db m180755) WM
On 41 near Diamond O Drive, on the right when traveling south.
The prominent geological feature to the west is called Beaverhead Rock. On the afternoon of August 8, 1805, members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition pulled its canoes up the Beaverhead River toward the Continental Divide. They sighted what Clark . . . — — Map (db m193249) HM
On State Highway 41 near Diamond O Drive, on the right when traveling south.
By the time the Corps of Discovery passed through here, the "Valley of the Beaverhead" was already common ground for many Indian tribes. The Beaver's Head was a well-known landmark not only to the Shoshone but other Rocky Mountain tribes who passed . . . — — Map (db m193247) HM
Near Montana Route 324 near Lake View Road, on the right when traveling east.
The End of Navigation
The Corps of Discovery's travel on the Missouri River came to an end here in mid-August of 1805. Lewis and Clark followed Thomas Jefferson's order to ascend the Missouri drainage as far as possible by boat and ran . . . — — Map (db m256263) HM
On East Center Street at North Idaho Street, on the right when traveling north on East Center Street.
The City Hall building was built in 1914. The ground where the building sits was purchased from David Robb for $4,450. It was designed by renowned architect Fred R. Willson and built by contractor William Reed. Construction began in April 1914 and . . . — — Map (db m180694) HM
Near Clarks Lookout Road west of State Highway 91.
This monument design is taken from the small pocket compass carried by William Clark on the expedition. Clark’s compass was made by Thomas Whitney in Philadelphia.
Fortunate Chapter of the National Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage . . . — — Map (db m128185) HM
On East Center Street near North Idaho Street, on the left when traveling south.
The four buildings that make up this small historic district show the growth of Dillon’s city government. Buildings include ones constructed in the Progressive Era, the New Deal, and the 1960s, when the city built a shelter for one of its water . . . — — Map (db m180751) HM
On North Idaho Street at East Center Street, on the right when traveling north on North Idaho Street.
Built in 1902, this building was the second location of the Dillon Implement Company, a company that was founded in August of 1886. The first location was north of the Union Pacific Depot on Montana St. The second building was constructed from stone . . . — — Map (db m180752) HM
On E. Glendale Street at South Washington Street, on the right when traveling north on E. Glendale Street.
This tablet marks the site of the first public school building which was also used for the first court house-theatre and library in Dillon
Dedicated to the pioneers of the valley on the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of Dillon.
Placed by . . . — — Map (db m145700) HM
On Clarks Lookout Road west of State Highway 91, on the right when traveling south.
Your observations are to be taken with great pains & accuracy, to be entered distinctly & intelligibly for others as well as yourself, to comprehend all the elements necessary —President Thomas Jefferson
On August 13, 1805 William . . . — — Map (db m128184) HM
Near State Highway 324 near Lake View Road when traveling east.
On the day he reached the "two forks" Lewis wrote in his journal, "I do not believe that the world can furnish an example of a river running to the extent which the Missouri and Jefferson's rivers do through such a mountainous country . . . — — Map (db m261413) HM
Near Interstate 15 Frontage Road near Old Stage Road, on the right when traveling north. Reported unreadable.
The point where the Beaverhead River entered the Blacktail Fault is marked by a dramatic change in the landscape. This fault uplifts the Blacktail Mountains over 9,000 feet. All of this topography (?) over the last six million years and the fault . . . — — Map (db m255994) HM
On State Highway 324 near Interstate 15, on the left when traveling east.
This site was the pivotal point in the success of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The party camped here in August 1805. They cached their boats and aided by the influence of Sacajawea obtained horses from her people the Shoshone Indians
The Great . . . — — Map (db m124304) HM
Near Bannack Road near State Highway 278, on the left when traveling east.
In midsummer, 1862, John White and party discovered gold on this creek several miles down stream. The first major gold rush to what is now Montana resulted. — — Map (db m124264) HM
On South Idaho Street at East Glendale Street, on the right when traveling west on South Idaho Street.
The Andrus Hotel was built to be a first-class establishment to serve the City of Dillon and to accommodate train travelers in the ares. Jesse M. Warren, a well known Butte Architect, designed the building for construction. Dar Hardware of Dillon . . . — — Map (db m209430) HM
On State Highway 324 near Lake View Road, on the right when traveling east.
The Big Island
Camp Fortunate was located near the base of the prominent island in Clark Canyon Reservoir. The singular mountain in the open plain that Meriwether Lewis described is a limestone rock outcrop that separated the . . . — — Map (db m256062) HM
On State Highway 324 near Interstate 15, on the left when traveling east.
Few points along the route of the Lewis and Clark Expedition have the significance of this site, now beneath the waters of Clark Canyon Reservoir. Noted on their maps as "Fortunate Camp", the Lewis and Clark Expedition journeyed here hoping to . . . — — Map (db m124302) HM
Near State Highway 324 near Interstate 15, on the left when traveling east.
In 1804-06, Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark led about 40 soldiers and boatmen on an epic journey. President Thomas Jefferson commissioned this “Corps of Discovery” to find a route to the Pacific Ocean through the newly acquired Louisiana . . . — — Map (db m124305) HM
On South Montana Street, on the right when traveling south.
The Lewis and Clark Expedition passed this way going west August, 1805 and returning July, 1806.
‘Though the Pathfinder may die, the paths remain open.’
Beaverhead Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution. June 14, 1928 — — Map (db m145710) HM
On Clarks Lookout Road west of State Highway 91, on the right when traveling south.
Instruments for ascertaining, by celestial observations, the geography of the country through which you will pass, have been already provided. —President Thomas Jefferson
The data collected by Lewis and Clark is a striking indicator . . . — — Map (db m128183) HM
On South Pacific Street at East Clark Street, on the right when traveling west on South Pacific Street.
The Martin Barrett House, built in 1912, was the in-town retirement home of prominent pioneer rancher, politician and philanthropist Martin Barrett and his wife Alice. One of the finest examples of early-twentieth-century architecture in Dillon, the . . . — — Map (db m209432) HM
Near South Montana Street near East Glendale Street, on the right when traveling east.
It was acquire many years ago in the mountains southwest of Dillon, MT. The tree could be as much as 500 years old. The Sheepeaters placed a mountain sheep skull in the crotch of a tree, and over a hundred years or more the tree grew around it. . . . — — Map (db m180689) HM
The Nez Perce camped near here on Horse Prairie Creek, Aug. 12 1877 following the Battle of the Big Hole Aug. 9-10. General Howard was summoned when beating drums arroused [sic] the citizens of Bannack. Women and children were quartered in the Meade . . . — — Map (db m49537) HM
On Interstate 15 at milepost 55 near Rebich Lane when traveling south.
Interstate 15 is the latest in a series of roads that have traversed this area since prehistory. Although used for generations by Native Americans, the first recorded use of this route was by the Lewis and Clark Expedition on August 10, 1805. They . . . — — Map (db m124291) HM
On Lemhi Pass Road (State Highway 324), on the left when traveling south.
Route of the Red Rock Stage that ran from Red Rock MT. to Salmon ID from 1866 to 1910, a 125 mi. daily trip, year round. The "Mud Coach" was pulled by 6 horses The ranch house to your right was the original stage stop. — — Map (db m256267) HM
On Clarks Lookout Road west of State Highway 91, on the right when traveling south.
”…you will take careful observations of …objects distinguished by such natural marks & characters of a durable kind…”
—President Thomas Jefferson
There is a remarkable view from the crest of Clark's Lookout and it is . . . — — Map (db m128182) HM
On State Highway 324 near Lake View Road, on the right when traveling east.
Looking for Clark
As the sun rose over their camp on the morning of the 17th of August 1805, Captain Meriwether Lewis dispatched his interpreter George Drouillard downstream to search for Captain William Clark and the rest of the . . . — — Map (db m255992) HM
Near State Highway 324 near Lake View Road, on the right when traveling east.
At the beginning of the 1800s, the science of Geology still was in its infancy; in fact the word geology in its currently accepted meaning was not used until 1778. Before the mid=1700s, the study of the origins of the earth and its rocks, . . . — — Map (db m256272) HM
Near State Highway 324 near State Highway 15, on the left when traveling west.
In Commemoration of
Sacajawea
who guided Lewis and Clark through this
the land of her childhood and capture
On August 17th, 1805 she rejoined her tribe near this site. The services she rendered the expedition were invaluable. . . . — — Map (db m124293) HM
On Bannack Road near State Highway 278, on the left when traveling east.
Sidney Edgerton arrived at Bannack from Ohio in September 1863 to begin his appointment as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Idaho Territory. The massive territory encompassed Idaho, all of Montana, and the western half of Wyoming, with the . . . — — Map (db m124263) HM
On Interstate 15 Frontage Road near Old Stage Road, on the right when traveling north.
Following an Indian road on the east side of the Beaverhead River, Captain Meriwether Lewis, along with three men, arrived here on August 10, 1805 and stopped long enough to lunch on freshly killed deer. Several days earlier, Lewis struck out . . . — — Map (db m256061) HM
On Clarks Lookout Road west of State Highway 91, on the right when traveling south.
William Clark was central to the success of the Corps of Discovery expedition not only during the two years spent crossing the continent but also because he produced maps of the west long after his return.
His three maps of the Western United . . . — — Map (db m128181) HM
