On Main Street (Beartooth Highway) (U.S. 212) west of River Street, on the right when traveling east.
As the mining town of Cooke City flourished into the 1880s, temporary structures gave way to more permanent establishments. In 1886, John A. Savage and partner John Elder opened a general mercantile whose long history reflects both the lean and . . . — — Map (db m130228) HM
On U.S. 212, 0.2 miles west of Montana Street, on the right when traveling east.
Prospectors discovered rich mineral deposits in the Beartooth Mountains near here in 1874. Christened the New World Mining District, the area included claims with colorful names like Miner’s Delight, Hidden Treasure, Southern Spy and Silver King. . . . — — Map (db m45240) HM
On Beartooth Highway (U.S. 212) 0.2 miles east of Kersey Lake Road, on the left when traveling east.
For three months the members of the Nez Perce non-treaty bands had been constantly on the move evading the military. Scouts ranged in front and guarded behind the traveling village of mostly children, women and old people, as they sought safety and . . . — — Map (db m130230) HM
On Old Yellowstone Trail South, 0.3 miles south of E. Gate Road, on the left when traveling south.
A Blue Ribbon Flowing Through Paradise
The Yellowstone is the longest free-flowing river in the lower 48 states. For the 103 miles downstream from Gardiner, the river is designated as a "Blue Ribbon" trout stream, the longest single . . . — — Map (db m40554) HM
On U.S. 89, 30 miles south of Interstate 90, on the left when traveling south.
The Absaroka - Beartooth Wilderness, which lies to the east, contains one of the largest single expanses of land above 10,000 feet in elevation in the United States. The U.S. Forest Service set aside portions of the region as primitive areas in . . . — — Map (db m123116) HM
On U.S. 89, 2.9 miles west of Murphy Lane/Story Rd., on the left when traveling west.
In August 1864,three emigrants, who came to Montana on the Bozeman Trail, arrived here and found men already hard at work mining the creek. The new arrivals decided to try their luck farther up the rugged gulch, finding pay dirt high up the side of . . . — — Map (db m46256) HM
On North Entrance Road, 0.9 miles south of West Park Street, on the left when traveling south.
Northern Yellowstone sustains one of the largest and most diverse populations of free-roaming wildlife seen anywhere on earth.
It is often called "America's Serengeti." About half of the approximately 30,000 elk that summer in the park . . . — — Map (db m40566) HM
On Spring Street, on the left when traveling east.
When the Northern Pacific Railroad announced plans to build a branch line to Yellowstone National Park in the early 1880s, the small town of Gardiner quickly emerged as a "wild west" town. Early accounts labeled it "a veritable Shantyville . . . an . . . — — Map (db m227576) HM
On U.S. 89 west of 3rd Street, on the right when traveling west.
In 1903, most Yellowstone visitors arrived in Gardiner by train where they boarded stagecoaches for the journey into Wonderland. Gardiner had just built a beautiful train depot in the rustic architectural style, and both park administrators and . . . — — Map (db m123115) HM
On North Entrance Road, 0.1 miles south of West Park Street, on the right when traveling south. Reported permanently removed.
When Yellowstone was established in 1872 as the world's first national park, it was remote and nearly inaccessible. Few "tourists" had the time or the means to travel here from the major cities of the east and west coasts. However, by 1903 the North . . . — — Map (db m123135) HM
On West Park Street west of 2nd Street South, on the right when traveling west.
Named for fur trapper, Johnson Gardner, Gardiner has had a rough and tumble history to match. The town was established when one of the earliest entrepreneurs in Yellowstone, James C. McCartney, was invited by the park superintendent to remove . . . — — Map (db m227632) HM
On U.S. 89, 0.8 miles south of Yankee Jim Campground, on the right when traveling south.
Visit the interpretive trail across the river and take a pleasant walk on an improve trail or enjoy a picnic. A series of interpretive signs will take you on a journey through time to some fascinating eras of history.Past, present and future The . . . — — Map (db m46260) HM
On North Entrance Road, 1.1 miles West Park Street, on the left when traveling south.
In summer, pronghorn might be the only large mammals you see in this valley. In winter the wildlife picture changes dramatically. Herds of elk and bison, mule deer, and bighorn sheep descend from the snowy high country to look for food. Gardner . . . — — Map (db m40579) HM
On North Entrance Road, 0.9 miles south of West Park Street, on the left when traveling south.
Elk - Sometimes called "wapiti" (the Shawnee word for "one with a white rump"), elk are often seen in large herds in open areas where they graze on grasses and forbs. Bull elk have antlers that they shed every year. Each spring as the elk age, . . . — — Map (db m40576) HM
On U.S. 89, 0.8 miles south of Yankee Jim Campground, on the right when traveling south.
Montana's state fish has a sinister name and a fragile future. Set apart from other trout by red slash marks on either side of the lower jaw, the Yellowstone cutthroat trout is far from murderous. Native only to the Yellowstone River drainage, this . . . — — Map (db m46257) HM
On North Entrance Road, 0.9 miles south of West Park Street, on the left when traveling south.
What is different about the northern range soils?
While most of Yellowstone is a high volcanic plateau composed of rhyolite, the northern portion of the park is more complex geologically. Here you find landslides, erodible shales and . . . — — Map (db m40572) HM
On West Park Street near North Yellowstone Street, on the right when traveling west.
Captain William Clark and his party rode from the west, following a creek downstream (now called Billman Creek) to the Yellowstone River. Looking to the south, they could see that the Yellowstone River emerged from between the Absaroka Mountains on . . . — — Map (db m231563) HM
On River Drive near Miles Park Road, on the right when traveling west.
This statue commemorates Sacajawea, whose loyalty, courage and, devotion were instrumental in the success of the Lewis and Clark expedition of 1803-1806.
Holding her infant son Jean Baptiste Charbonneau (nicknamed "Pomp" by Capt. Wn. Clark), she . . . — — Map (db m191659) HM
On River Drive near South Yellowstone Street, on the right when traveling west.
In his journals, Captain William Clark described the Yellowstone River, which he translated for the French name, Roche Jaune, as "...120 yds. Wide bold, rapid and deep." Clark and his party followed the Yellowstone River for 19 days to . . . — — Map (db m191657) HM
On North Main Street near East Callender Street, on the right.
By 1884, a barbershop and restaurant occupied a one-story frame building on this lot. Fire destroyed much of Main Street in 1886, but owner Frederick Wright quickly rebuilt, again of wood. Saloons, restaurants, and barbershops remained the primary . . . — — Map (db m191356) HM
On North Main Street near East Callender Street, on the right when traveling north.
Fire destroyed the first commercial building on this lot in 1886, but owner Walter Ayrault quickly invested $1,000 to replace it. In 1901, the Northern Pacific Railroad expanded its repair shops, ensuring Livingston’s growth; the next year, C. H. . . . — — Map (db m191352) HM
On North Main Street near East Callender Street, on the right when traveling north.
After fire destroyed most of this side of Main Street in 1886, Chicago lawyer and financier James A. Danforth invested in building this double-front, brick commercial building. The original façade featured tall plate-glass windows divided by central . . . — — Map (db m191347) HM
On South Yellowstone Street near West Lewis Street, on the left when traveling north.
Hand-cut local sandstone showcases the fine craftsmanship of master stonemason Martin Rolfson, who built this Colonial Revival style home in 1900. A hipped roof with front-facing gable and off-center frame porch create balanced asymmetry, while a . . . — — Map (db m191638) HM
On South Yellowstone Street near West Lewis Street, on the left when traveling north.
This very early Westside home was the first on the block, built during the year Montana achieved statehood in 1889. Its anonymous builder, using locally manufactured brick, constructed the solid walls with three layers of masonry. The front porch . . . — — Map (db m191636) HM
On South Yellowstone Street at West Lewis Street, on the right when traveling north on South Yellowstone Street.
In 1891, only eight years after Livingston’s founding, Julia Rolfson and her husband John, a stone mason, lived in this substantial, brick, cross-gable home. The Italianate style inspired the one-and-one-half-story residence’s wide, overhanging . . . — — Map (db m191584) HM
On West Callender Street near South Yellowstone Street, on the left when traveling west.
W. H. Campbell, a physician, president of the Montana State Board of Medical Examiners, and two-term state senator from Park County, built this Queen Anne style home in 1890. The one-and-one-half-story residence has a central hipped roof with two . . . — — Map (db m191641) HM
On East Callender Street at South H Street, on the right when traveling east on East Callender Street.
As the Northern Pacific Railroad made its push across the upper tier of the western states in the early 1880s, Livingston grew to serve its passengers and crews. Convenient to the shops and yards, the Eastside especially was home to the many blue . . . — — Map (db m191727) HM
On East Callender Street near North H Street, on the left when traveling west.
Blue collar railroad workers were the backbone of the Livingston community and many settled in this area opposite the Northern Pacific shops. Between 1900 and 1910, housing for workers began to fill this neighborhood to accommodate the railroad’s . . . — — Map (db m191741) HM
On South D Street at East Callender Street, on the right when traveling north on South D Street.
The US War Department gave this 3-inch Ordnance Rifle, the most widely used
cannon during the war,, to the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), Farragut Post 7.
GAR members voted to include the above slogan, and the dates of the Civil War, . . . — — Map (db m191726) HM
On Interstate 90 at milepost 325, on the right when traveling east.
(Three panels make up this marker:) Yellowstone River:
Haven for Great Hers of Wildlife
July 24, 1806
"Saw emenc number of Deer Elk and buffalow on the banks. Some beaver...for me to mention or give an . . . — — Map (db m191921) HM
On North Main Street near East Callender Street, on the right when traveling north.
A wood-frame cigar factory and shooting gallery stood here in 1884. After fire destroyed the buildings in 1886, owner J. A. Danforth quickly rebuilt in brick. Four years later, he added a second story, but the addition was so heavy it damaged the . . . — — Map (db m191386) HM
On West Park Street (U.S. 89) near North 2nd Street, on the left when traveling west.
St. Paul, Minnesota, architect E. P. Bassford designed three buildings side by side in 1884: The First National Bank Building on the corner, then two identical business blocks. The twin commercial buildings were constructed for members of the bank’s . . . — — Map (db m191276) HM
On West Park Street (Business Interstate 90) at North 2nd Street, on the left when traveling west on West Park Street.
The solid massing of this building follows a long Masonic tradition of erecting lodges whose size and bulk symbolize the permanency and stability of Masonry itself. Seemingly a colossal white stucco box, the building is actually comprised of three . . . — — Map (db m191275) HM
On Mission Creek Road, 0.2 miles south of Interstate 90, on the right when traveling north.
The area in front of you once served as south-central Montana's cultural crossroads. Especially between 1868 and 1875, this was a place where settlers and Indians traded goods and services, where the U.S. government sought (and failed) to convert . . . — — Map (db m193330) HM
On North Main Street near East Callender Street, on the right when traveling north.
A Jewish immigrant from Poland, tailor Henry Frank first arrived in Montana in 1867. He and his wife Barbara followed the Northern Pacific Railroad to Livingston, where they built the city’s first brick business block in 1883 on East Park. In 1890, . . . — — Map (db m191350) HM
On South 2nd Street near West Lewis Street, on the left when traveling north.
Emanuel Goughnour arrived in Livingston in late 1882 and formed a general lumber business. He also operated a saw mill on Willow Creek and a steam planing mill at the foot of Second Street. Between 1885 and 1891 he assembled six lots on Second . . . — — Map (db m191660) HM
On East Callender Street at South B Street, on the left when traveling west on East Callender Street.
German immigrant William Grabow settled in the Livingston area in the early 1880s. There he established a flour mill and helped introduce the manufacture of brick. Between 1908 and 1911, William built this prominent corner building, where he and his . . . — — Map (db m191392) HM
On North Main Street near East Callender Street, on the right when traveling north.
An 1886 fire destroyed the one-story tin shop and hardware warehouse that originally occupied this lot. Two year later, meat merchant and rancher John Harvat purchased the property. Livingston’s premier Gilded Age architect, I. J. Galbraith, . . . — — Map (db m191354) HM
On U.S. 89 near Alpenglow Lane, on the right when traveling east.
On the return journey from the Pacific Ocean, Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark took separate routes in Montana. Lewis headed north to explore and Clark headed east toward the three forks of the Missouri/ At the three forks, Sacajawea . . . — — Map (db m191744) HM
On North Main Street at East Callender Street, on the right when traveling north on North Main Street.
The look of Livingston’s Main Street can be traced to Charles S. Hefferlin, who built at least twelve stores at different times along this thoroughfare. Friendly rivalry between Hefferlin and fellow developer A. W. Miles, who vied for similar . . . — — Map (db m191387) HM
On West Callender Street at South Yellowstone Street, on the left when traveling west on West Callender Street.
A harmonious blending of architectural styles yields an unusual façade in this elegant residence, built by noted attorney Hugh J. Miller circa 1900. A pedimented entry of classical design, gracefully flared roof of oriental influence, and square . . . — — Map (db m191643) HM
On North Main Street near West Park Street (Business Interstate 90), on the right when traveling north.
The intersection of Main and Park was the heart of Livingston’s compact commercial core, convenient to both railway passengers and local customers. Here in the mid 1880s brothers Isaac and Herman Orschel, who also had a store in Miles City, did a . . . — — Map (db m191280) HM
On Mission Creek Road (at milepost 343), 0.2 miles Interstate 90, on the right when traveling north.
The interstate highway nearby mirrors a path travelers have used for centuries. Even long before the days of Lewis and Clark, members of the Crow Tribe came to this area in an annual rendezvous that was central to their culture. The tribe's nomadic . . . — — Map (db m193329) HM
On South Yellowstone Street near West Lewis Street, on the left when traveling north.
The blocks between Clark and Calender streets were known as “Banker’s Row” because three prominent bankers made their homes in the neighborhood. Josiah C. Vilas was one of these men directly involved in Livingston’s financial welfare. Vilas came to . . . — — Map (db m191587) HM
On U.S. 89 near Bennett Street, on the right when traveling north.
World War II put a damper on the growth of radio broadcasting by freezing expansion of existing stations and disallowing the licensing of new stations. When the freeze finally lifted, KPRK Radio in Livingston was one of the first new postwar . . . — — Map (db m191795) HM
On Interstate 90 at milepost 325, on the right when traveling east.
(Left panel:)
Early Exploration and Settlement:
John Colter, member of the 1804-1805 (sic) Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery, in 1807 was the first known white man to have traversed through the area known as Yellowstone . . . — — Map (db m191799) HM
On South B Street near East Geyers Street, on the right when traveling north.
These four small one-story houses are the only remnants of Livingston’s once-thriving red-light district. A convenient but respectable distance from the railroad hub, commercial district, and residential neighborhoods, here the “painted ladies” . . . — — Map (db m191661) HM
On East Callender Street near South B Street, on the left when traveling west.
The territorial legislature created Park County with Livingston as county seat in 1887. By the mid-1890s city officials needed office space and a firehouse was even more critical. Fiery disasters had long plagued the community, and destruction of . . . — — Map (db m191391) HM
On South E Street at East Callender Street, on the left when traveling north on South E Street.
From 1900 to 1910, the Northern Pacific Railroad’s good fortunes overflowed into Livingston. Expansion of railroad services brought an influx of blue-collar workers and their families who located on the convenient Eastside, near the railroad shops . . . — — Map (db m191724) HM
A few years after Livingston Memorial Hospital opened in February 1955, the Livingston Enterprise reported, “This neat, modern building will hold a prominent position in the lives of Livingston residents for years to come. For some it will be their . . . — — Map (db m191797) HM
On North Yellowstone Street at West Park Street, on the right when traveling west on North Yellowstone Street.
Livingston was inextricably tied to the railroad, but its business community also influenced the town’s character. After 1900, professionals and entrepreneurs built new homes on the Westside when the expansion of downtown encroached on the previous . . . — — Map (db m191796) HM
On North 2nd Street at West Callender Street, on the right when traveling north on North 2nd Street.
Charles Garnier—Livingston mayor and cigar manufacturer—teamed up with businessman, brick manufacturer, and real estate developer A. W. Miles to construct this dignified addition to the commercial district. They hired one of the architects . . . — — Map (db m191582) HM
On West Park Street (Business Interstate 90) near North 2nd Street, on the left.
Entrepreneur brothers Tommy and Billy Miles constructed this dignified building in 1903 strategically located across from the Northern Pacific’s new passenger depot. The first floor of the masonry business block provided the booming community with . . . — — Map (db m191279) HM
On West Park Street (U.S. 89) at North 2nd Street, on the left when traveling west on West Park Street.
Antique furniture, red oak doors, a towering lobby, and 700 square feet of marble make this historic hotel a timeless ambassador of the “real West.” Built circa 1904, the Murray began as the Elite Hotel (locally pronounced EE-light) when Livingston . . . — — Map (db m191274) HM
On South 9th Street at River Drive, on the left when traveling south on South 9th Street.
"Struck the Rochejhone 1/2 a mile below the branch we came down & 1 1/2 ms. below where it passes out of the Rocky mountains....The horses feet are very sore many of them Can Scercely proceed on over the Stone and gravel in every other respect . . . — — Map (db m205927) HM
On West Park Street near North 2nd Street, on the left when traveling west.
In 1883, Wetzstein Hall, a two-story wooden building with a liquor wholesale operation on the first floor and a public hall on the second, stood on this site. In 1902, Fred Pape opened the National Park Steam Laundry here. He purchased the building . . . — — Map (db m191277) HM
On West Callender Street at South 2nd Street, on the left when traveling west on West Callender Street.
The Park Hotel Building
Built in 1904 by A.W. Miles for $60,000.00
Designed by:
C.S. Haire, Architect, Helena, Montana
The Corner Lot was Acquired in 1892
From W.A. Lange. The Other 3 Lots were
Owned by the Carver Mercantile . . . — — Map (db m191580) HM
On River Drive near South Yellowstone Street, on the right when traveling west.
Sacajawea and her son traveled with Captain William Clark down the Yellowstone River passing through this area on July 15, 1806. Sacajawea was a Shoshone teenager whose knowledge of native tribes, languages, and geographical landmarks of the area . . . — — Map (db m191658) HM
On South 9th Street at River Drive, on the left when traveling south on South 9th Street.
"I can See no timber Sufficient large for a Canoe which will Carry more than 3 men and Such a one would be too Small to answer my purpose." William Clark, Tuesday 15th July, 1806
In 1806, Captain William Clark and his party of . . . — — Map (db m205928) HM
On South 3rd Street at West Clark Street, on the left when traveling north on South 3rd Street.
Father Lawrence Palladino said the first Catholic mass at Livingston in the summer of 1883, on the cusp of the Northern Pacific Railroad’s arrival. The town was still a makeshift settlement of canvas tents and temporary dwellings. In 1884, Rev. J. . . . — — Map (db m191644) HM
On South Yellowstone Street near West Lewis Street, on the left when traveling north.
Edward Talcott came West in 1883, settling in the newly platted town of Livingston. As the town grew, Talcott discovered his professional niche. By 1891, he had risen from manager of a mercantile to assistant cashier and then to president of the . . . — — Map (db m191585) HM
On West Park Street near North Yellowstone Street, on the left when traveling west.
In 1804-1806, Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark led the Corps of Discovery on an epic journey. Charged by President Thomas Jefferson to find a water route to the Pacific Ocean through the newly acquired Louisiana territory, they mapped the . . . — — Map (db m191229) HM
On South Main Street near East Callender Street, on the right when traveling north.
Historic maps of Main Street show that a vendor’s stand occupied this lot in 1891. By 1896, this small but very fashionable commercial building added to Livingston’s stylish downtown streetscape. The building is a fine example of the Western . . . — — Map (db m191393) HM
On Mission Creek Road, 0.2 miles south of Interstate 90, on the right when traveling north.
Like much of Montana, the lands of the Mission Ranch still look largely as they did in the days of Lewis and Clark. Ranching, anchored as it is in the land's own natural productivity, is one of the main reasons. The grassland prairies and wooded . . . — — Map (db m193374) HM
On U.S. 89 at milepost 24 near Old Yellowstone Trail South, on the right when traveling north.
The black-capped bluffs located on the east side of the Yellowstone River are called Hepburn's Mesa. The mesa is capped by a basalt lava flow the erupted from a small local volcano vent that has long since eroded away. Geologically, the lava flow is . . . — — Map (db m191798) HM
On U.S. 89, 0.5 miles south of Flathead Creek Road (State Highway 86), on the left when traveling south.
This river was named by Captain William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition in honor of John Shields, a member of the party. Captain Clark and his men, guided by Sacajawea, the Shoshone woman, camped at the mouth of the river July 15, 1806, . . . — — Map (db m128299) HM
This stretch of river runs warmer than most mountain streams. A half mile up the trail, underground discharge from Mammoth Hot Springs enters the current and creates a year-round climate for water birds, trout, and aquatic plants. Over the years, . . . — — Map (db m123426) HM
