Fort Benton: Discover History on the Missouri

Fort Benton brings together the history of the Missouri River, museums, a historic riverside route, and river travel opportunities. It is especially well suited as a destination for a stay that lets you explore these different perspectives. The city is recognized as a National Historic Landmark: As the highest navigable point on the Missouri River, it played an important role in the settlement of the Northwest and western Canada. The Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument begins at historic Fort Benton on U.S. Highway 87.

Museums and the History of the Missouri

At the Museum of the Upper Missouri, you can explore the history and legends of the Upper Missouri River. Exhibits also cover Fort Benton’s importance as the highest navigable point on the river; the Whoop-Up Trail is another extensive exhibit topic.

At the Missouri Breaks Interpretive Center, exhibits show the Missouri River’s role in westward expansion. The Museum of the Northern Great Plains, by contrast, documents the past one hundred years of life on Montana’s wide-open plains. River history and everyday life on the plains are presented as distinct topics.

Homestead Village invites you to explore a typical rural community of the 1900s. The village includes buildings from abandoned Homestead-era settlements; they were relocated to the site, faithfully restored, and furnished. This historical perspective complements the museums’ themes with a look at life in a rural community.

Historic Sites and the Levee Walk

The Levee Walk follows the Missouri River through downtown Fort Benton and offers wide-open views on an easy stroll through one of Montana’s significant historic landscapes. The route passes through the National Historic Landmark District. River trade, travel, and everyday life once came together in this area; more than 40 interpretive signs line the walk. The bronze Shep Memorial is located on the Levee Walk near downtown Fort Benton.

Old Fort Benton stands on the banks of the Missouri River and preserves a surviving monument from the city’s fur-trading era. The site tells the story of the fur and buffalo robe trade, as well as the relationships between traders and the Northern Plains tribes. Montana’s Lewis & Clark Memorial is another reminder of the expedition’s history: It was Fort Benton’s contribution to the nation’s 1976 bicentennial celebration and is the State of Montana’s official memorial to the expedition.

The Missouri River on the Water

The Missouri River near Fort Benton offers calm stretches of water, several access points, and long, scenic float routes. These routes are suitable for both beginners and experienced river users. Canoes and kayaks are particularly well suited to the slower current, offering control, stability, and safety on the water. When choosing a river activity, different considerations come to the fore: the length and scenery of the float routes, or the control and stability of canoes and kayaks in the slower current.

Seasonal Events in Fort Benton

Fort Benton’s Summer Celebration takes place every year on the last weekend in June and features parades, music, and community events. Exact dates may vary from year to year; check the event date if you’d like to plan your trip around it. The events calendar lists the seasonal Fort Benton Farmers Market, with local goods and fresh food, on Thursdays in July and August from 5 to 7 p.m. at Levee Park. Check the market dates before your trip.

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