Explore the journey — one trail, museum, meal, and memory at a time.
Fort Benton to Great Falls
A detour to Montana’s remote Virgelle Ferry became much more than a river crossing after I met Bev, its longtime ferry operator. The day continued through Loma and Great Falls, where the Missouri River, Lewis and Clark history, old smelter remains, and an unexpected riverside campsite turned a travel day into one of discovery.
Four Museums in Fort Benton
A full museum day in Fort Benton took me through the Missouri Breaks, Upper Missouri history, the reconstructed Old Fort and the Museum of the Northern Great Plains. I also stopped at the town’s war memorials, including tributes to Vietnam War service dogs and U.S. Navy ships, before ending the day along the Missouri River.
Fort Benton - Birthplace of Montana
I arrived in Fort Benton expecting a quiet historic town and found far more history than I anticipated. A walk along Front Street revealed stories of steamboats, traders, Lewis and Clark, Shep the dog and the rougher side of the Old West, before dinner at the Grand Union Hotel turned into an evening of conversation and new Montana travel recommendations.