Western Montana

Last Update: 21/FEBRUARY/2009

Compiled by Phil and Pete Payette - Š2009 American Forts Network

Camp Disappointment
(1806), Meriwether
A campsite on Meriwether Lewis' return trip eastward (July 1806), located on Cut Bank Creek, 18 miles west of Cut Bank.

Fort Piegan (3)
(unknown dates), Glacier County
An obscure reference found for the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. No other information found.

Fort Maginnis (1)
(Blackfeet Indian Reservation)
(1875 - 1879), near Cut Bank
A trading post operated by the T.C. Power and Brothers Company, originally located on Badger Creek, then relocated to Birch Creek.

Kootenai Post (4)
(1846 - 1860), Rexford
A Hudson's Bay Co. post also called Fort Kootenai, and also (John) Linklater's Post after 1852. Located either on the west-side of the Kootenai River at the mouth of Young Creek, or on the east-side at the mouth of the Tobacco River. After the 49th Parallel boundary was surveyed, the post moved north to Canada (near Roosville, BC) and was eventually replaced by Fort Steele, British Columbia.

Kootenai Post (2)
(1811 - 1812), Jennings
A North West Co. trading post located on the north-side of the Kootenai River opposite the town, near the Libby Dam.

Kootenai Post (1)
(1808 - 1809), Libby
A North West Co. trading post on the north-side of the Kootenai River opposite town.

Kootenai Post (3)
(1821 - 1824, 1829 - unknown), near Libby
A North West Co. trading post located above the Kootenai Falls at the mouth of Rainey Creek. Abandoned, then replaced by a Hudson's Bay Co. post in 1829 on the same site.

Flathead Post (1)
(1812), Noxon
A North West Co. trading post built by Alexander Ross on the north-side of the Clark Fork River.

Saleesh House (1)
(1809 - 1810 ?), Thompson Falls
A North West Co. trading post built by David Thompson, located on the north-side of the Clark Fork River nearly opposite the mouth of Prospect (Ashley) Creek.

Flathead Post (2)
(1823 - 1847), Eddy
A Hudson's Bay Co. trading post built by Alexander Ross, located east of Thompson Falls on the north-side of the Clark Fork River. Also called Saleesh House (2).

Cantonment Jordan
(1859 - 1860), De Borgia
A winter camp for troops and laborers on the construction of Mullen Road, which connected Fort Benton (2) with Fort Walla Walla, WA. Site located two miles east of town.

Fort Connah
(1846 - 1872), near St. Ignatius
A trading post for the Hudson's Bay Company, the last built on American soil. Located on Post Creek north of town. The old storehouse may still be standing.

Cantonment Wright
(1861 - 1862), Milltown
A winter encampment for troops and laborers on the construction of Mullen Road, which connected Fort Benton (2) with Fort Walla Walla, WA.

Fort Missoula
(Northern Rockies Heritage Center)
(Rocky Mountain Museum of Military History)
(1876 - 1918, 1921 - 1947), Missoula
Originally called Post at Missoula until 1877. The fort, located at the mouth of Grant Creek, was originally built to protect settlers. It also served as a holding place for captured Nez Perce Indians. The post was not garrisoned from 1898 - 1901. The post was remodeled and updated between 1908 and 1914. The fort was closed in 1915, but was then used as an Army mechanic's school until 1918. The post was reactivated in 1921, and later used by the U.S. Immigration Service from 1941 - 1944 as an internment camp. The MT National Guard and the U.S. Forest Service now use most of the grounds, along with several other Federal and state agencies. The rest of the former post is managed by the Northern Rockies Heritage Center. The grounds include thirteen historic buildings from the rebuilt fort, three buildings from the original fort, a small military cemetery, and a parade ground. The rebuilt buildings include the Headquarters, the Post Exchange, a Quartermaster Storehouse, the Hospital, two Barracks, and seven Officer's Quarters, all now repurposed. The Quartermaster Storehouse building now contains the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula. The original fort buildings include a Carriage House (1880), a stone powder magazine (1878) and restored NCO quarters (1878). The Headquarters Building is now home to Vital Ground.
(some info courtesy of Tate Jones, Executive Director, R.M.M.M.H.)

Fort Fizzle
(1877), Lolo
A 200-foot long log and earth breastwork built to block the path of the Nez Perce through Lolo Pass on the state line. The Indians simply went around the stockade and the Army's efforts "fizzled out" (July 1877). Site located five miles west of town.

Cantonment Stevens
(1853), Stevensville
A Federal post used by troops and laborers for the construction of Mullen Road, which connected Fort Benton (2) with Fort Walla Walla, WA. The road project was then suspended until 1859.

Fort (John) Owen (State Park)
(1850 - 1871), Stevensville
A 250-by-125-foot stockaded adobe/log trading post, grist mill, and farm complex built at the site of St. Mary's Mission (1841 - 1884), one mile north of town. One building on site has been restored.

Helena Barracks
(1877 - 1878), Helena
A Federal post. Site located at the Helena Fairgrounds three miles outside the city.

Fort William Henry Harrison (State Military Reservation)
(Fort Harrison V.A. Medical Center)
(1895 - 1913/present), Helena
Originally simply called Fort Harrison until 1906. Although officially authorized and named in 1892, the post was not actually built until 1895. Used by the MT National Guard after the Regular Army left in 1913. The main garrison post area later became a Veterans Administration Hospital. The MT National Guard, U.S. Army Reserve, and the Naval Reserve continue to use a portion of the old post. Two WWII-era airstrips are used for helicopter operations. Located here is the new Montana Military Museum.

Camp Robert Smith
(1898), Helena
A Spanish-American War muster camp and assembly area for state troops. Original site was in Central Park west of town, but it became too muddy and was moved to another location closer to town.

Camp Fortunate
(Lewis and Clark State Memorial)
(1805), near Grant
A campsite where the Lewis and Clark Expedition stayed and reunited Sacagawea with her people (August 1805). The Shoshone village was located in the Lemhi Pass area between here and Tendoy, Idaho. The campsite is now under the Clark Canyon Reservoir.

Camp Cummings
(1867), Virginia City
A military camp built to protect the miners in town.

Three Forks Post
(1810, 1832), Three Forks
A St. Louis Missouri Fur Co. 300-foot square double stockaded trading post built by John Colter and Andrew Henry, located between the Jefferson and Madison Rivers, also called Fort at Three Forks, Fort Henry (2), and Andrew Henry's Post. Abandoned after only a few months due to Blackfeet Indian hostilities.

Attempts were later made in 1832 by the American Fur Co. (Henry Vanderburgh's Post) and the rival Rocky Mountain Fur Co. (Jim Bridger's Post) to establish new trading posts here, but they also failed.

Fort Ellis
(1867 - 1886), near Bozeman
A Federal post built to protect the Bozeman Trail, settlers and miners. Very few remains are left at the actual site, now occupied (since early 1900's) by the Fort Ellis Research Ranch of Montana State University, located three miles east of town on the East Gallatin River.

Fort Elizabeth Meagher
(1867), near Bozeman
A short-lived post of volunteer militia located eight miles east of town on Rock Creek, built in anticipation of a Crow Indian attack. Also simply called Fort Meagher (1).

Camp Ida Thoroughman
(1867), Livingston
A militia camp located four miles northeast of town. Also simply called Camp Thoroughman.

Fort Parker
(1869 - 1875), near Livingston
A 200-foot square log stockade with two blockhouses. Burned and rebuilt with adobe in 1872, along with 25 adobe houses outside the fort for the Indians. Served also as the Crow Indian Agency until 1875. Located four miles east of town, one mile south of the Yellowstone River. The Agency was relocated in 1875 to the Stillwater Valley, near the convergence of the East and West Rosebud Rivers.

Fort Howie
(1867), near Livingston
A temporary stockade built by the local militia. Located on the Yellowstone River at the mouth of Shield's River about seven miles east of town.

Fort Thomas F. Meagher
(1867), Springdale
A temporary militia post located on the Yellowstone River in McAdows Canyon. Also called Fort Meagher (2).

Camp Green Clay Smith
(1867 - 1868), near Springdale
A temporary Army post four miles northeast of Fort Thomas Meagher. Also called Fort Green Clay Smith.

Fort Logan
(1869 - 1880), near White Sulphur Springs
Originally located 10 miles northwest in the Smith River Valley to protect the miners at Diamond City. It was originally named Camp Baker. It was moved southeast to its present location, 17 miles northwest of town on the west bank of the river, in 1870, and renamed in 1878. Traces of the fort can be seen today. The blockhouse still remains, moved in 1962 to the center of the old parade ground.

Fort Grey Hill
(unknown dates), Meagher County
A trading post located somewhere in present-day Meagher County.
(info courtesy of Jerome Grenz)

NEED MORE INFO: Warm Springs Creek near Conner called "Flour Camp Creek" on the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1805). A possible military fort northeast of Lincoln area (date and location ?).
Towns: Garrison in Powell County.

Thanks to Jerome Grenz for additional information on Montana forts and posts.

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