The Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument begins at historic Fort Benton on U.S. Highway 87. Fort Benton is recognized as a National Historic Landmark for its role as the uppermost navigable point on the Missouri. This position was important in opening up the Northwest and western Canada, and provides a common thread throughout the town’s history.
Museums and Life on the Missouri
The Museum of the Upper Missouri presents the history and legends of the Upper Missouri River and highlights Fort Benton’s importance as the uppermost navigable point. Its extensive exhibits also include the Whoop-Up Trail. The Missouri Breaks Interpretive Center uses exhibits to explore the Missouri’s role in westward expansion. Together, these themes draw attention both to the river’s significance and to the history that unfolded along it.
The Museum of the Northern Great Plains offers a different perspective: it documents the past one hundred years of life across Montana’s vast plains. Homestead Village lets visitors explore a typical rural community of the 1900s. It includes buildings from abandoned homestead-era settlements that were moved to the site, faithfully restored, and furnished. In this way, river history and life on the plains stand alongside one another as distinct ways of exploring the region’s past.
Explore the Historic Center on Foot
The Levee Walk follows the Missouri River through the center of Fort Benton. The route offers expansive views and is considered an easy walk through a historically significant Montana landscape. It passes through the National Historic Landmark District, where river trade, travel, and everyday life once came together. More than 40 interpretive signs line the route and give the walk a historical context. The bronze Shep Memorial is also located on the Levee Walk, near the center.
The trail combines river views and local history on a manageable walking route. Those with a particular interest in historic trading sites can also visit Old Fort Benton on the banks of the Missouri. A preserved monument from Fort Benton’s fur-trading era stands there. Its interpretation covers both the fur and buffalo robe trade era and the relationships between traders and the tribes of the Northern Plains.
Memorials and River Activities
Another historical landmark is Montana’s Lewis & Clark Memorial. It was Fort Benton’s contribution to the national bicentennial celebration in 1976 and is the State of Montana’s official memorial to the expedition. Together with Old Fort Benton, it points to two different chapters: the fur trade on the Missouri and the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
On the water, the options are quite different from a walk along the riverbank. The Missouri River near Fort Benton has calm stretches, several access points, and long, scenic float routes. They are suitable for beginners as well as experienced river users. Canoes and kayaks are considered especially suitable for the slower current; they offer control and stability on the water. You can choose between an easy walk with historical stops and longer float routes.
Summer Events in Fort Benton
The annual Summer Celebration takes place on the last weekend in June and includes parades, music, and community events. The exact dates may vary from year to year, so check the dates for your chosen year before traveling.
For July and August, the seasonal Fort Benton Farmers Market is scheduled for Thursdays from 5 to 7 p.m. at Levee Park. The market features local goods and fresh food. Check the dates before your trip if you plan to visit the market.
Discover more destinations: Loma.
Go to the main travel overview: Chouteau County.
