Fort Benton - Montana Ghost Town

FORT BENTON

NAME: Fort Benton
COUNTY: Chouteau
ROADS: 2WD
GRID: 2
CLIMATE: Snow in winter very cold.Summer Hot and dry rainy in June.
BEST TIME TO VISIT: Late June to late September
.

COMMENTS: : Pop.a few thousand.From I-15 (north or south)take Hwy.#87,
follow signs on Hwy.39 miles
N.E. of Great Falls,MT.
There was a steam wheeler
one could ride.great campgrounds
along the Missouri river.
See Charlie Russell country
captured in many of his paintings.
Grand Hotel used by travelers
in the mid 1800's.Was being worked
on. May or may not be open
but the Hotel is great to photograph.
The air is so light and dry,and its
very quiet there.

REMAINS: Turret and wall of original fort.Grand Hotel may or may not be open

Began on the Missouri River in the 1840's as a Indian trade center and for the teamsters and wagons West. A hangout and theme for some of Charlie Russell's famous western paintings. The Conrad brothers started trade there and eventually they relocated and founded what is now Kalispell in the 1880's.They persuaded Jim Hill to build the Burlington Northern railroad in 1890-91. Today it's still cattle country and ranching. Submitted by: Rick West

Began on the Missouri River in the 1840's as a
Indian trade center and for the teamsters and wagons West. A hangout and theme for some of Charlie Russell's famous western
paintings. The Conrad brothers started trade
there and eventually they relocated and founded what is now Kalispell in the 1880's.They persuaded Jim Hill to build the Burlington Northern railroad in 1890-91. Today it's still cattle country and ranching.

Submitted by: Rick West

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