Montana Trail
Encyclopedia
The Montana Trail was wagon road that served gold rush towns such as Bannack
, Virginia City
and later Helena, Montana
during the Montana gold rush era of the 1860s and 1870s. It branched from the Oregon Trail
in southeastern Idaho and ran north through eastern Idaho along a well-established native American route into western Montana. A branch also connected with Salt Lake City that was an important supply point for the early years of the gold rush. The Montana Trail continued north and east through Montana to Fort Benton, Montana
on the Missouri River
. Fort Benton was a second important supply point connecting the gold rush towns to the Missouri riverboat trade.
The Montana Trail, the most important trail in the early history of Montana and one of the most important trails of the old West, was the scene of many stagecoach robberies, holdups, and life and death dramas so prevalent in the old West.
Bannack, Montana
Bannack is a ghost town in Beaverhead County, Montana, United States, located on Grasshopper Creek, approximately upstream from where Grasshopper Creek joins with the Beaverhead River south of Dillon.-History:...
, Virginia City
Virginia City, Montana
Virginia City is a town in and the county seat of Madison County, Montana, United States. In 1961, the town and the surrounding area was designated a National Historic Landmark District, the Virginia City Historic District...
and later Helena, Montana
Helena, Montana
Helena is the capital city of the U.S. state of Montana and the county seat of Lewis and Clark County. The 2010 census put the population at 28,180. The local daily newspaper is the Independent Record. The Helena Brewers minor league baseball and Helena Bighorns minor league hockey team call the...
during the Montana gold rush era of the 1860s and 1870s. It branched from the Oregon Trail
Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail is a historic east-west wagon route that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon and locations in between.After 1840 steam-powered riverboats and steamboats traversing up and down the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri rivers sped settlement and development in the flat...
in southeastern Idaho and ran north through eastern Idaho along a well-established native American route into western Montana. A branch also connected with Salt Lake City that was an important supply point for the early years of the gold rush. The Montana Trail continued north and east through Montana to Fort Benton, Montana
Fort Benton, Montana
Fort Benton is a city in and the county seat of Chouteau County, Montana, United States. A portion of the city was designated as a National Historic Landmark District in 1961. Established a full generation beforethe U.S...
on the Missouri River
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
. Fort Benton was a second important supply point connecting the gold rush towns to the Missouri riverboat trade.
The Montana Trail, the most important trail in the early history of Montana and one of the most important trails of the old West, was the scene of many stagecoach robberies, holdups, and life and death dramas so prevalent in the old West.
Further reading
- Madsen, Betty M. and Brigham D. North to Montana: Jehus, Bullwhackers, and Mule Skinners on the Montana Trail. Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press, 1980. ISBN 0-87480-130-3