Fort Benton
National Historic Landmark

Fort Benton

Fort Benton, Chouteau County, Montana
Listed
October 14, 1966
Type
District
Period
Early Republic
Ref No.
66000431

About this property

The Fort Benton Historic District is a National Historic Landmark District encompassing the historic waterfront areas of Fort Benton, Montana. Founded as a fur trading post at the head of navigation of the Missouri River, it was one of the nation's largest inland ports prior to the advent of the railroad, playing a pivotal role in the development of the American and Canadian West. The Front Street and waterfront area of the city preserves elements of this history. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961, although its boundaries were not formally determined until 2012.

Location

Fort Benton, Chouteau County, Montana
47.81878, -110.66669

Categories

COMMERCENATIVE AMERICANMILITARYTRANSPORTATIONARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Everything a full report reveals about Fort Benton

This page lists Fort Benton. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Nearby Historic Sites

St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Industrial
0 mi
Chouteau County Courthouse
Civil War
0.1 mi
Masonic Building
Modern
0.2 mi
Fort Benton Engine House
Civil War
0.3 mi
Fort Benton Bridge
Industrial
0.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Fort Benton listed on the National Register?

Fort Benton was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 14, 1966.

What type of historic resource is Fort Benton?

Fort Benton is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

Is Fort Benton a National Historic Landmark?

Yes. Fort Benton has been designated a National Historic Landmark (NHL), the highest level of federal recognition for historic properties in the United States.

What is the period of significance for Fort Benton?

The period of significance for Fort Benton is recorded as the early_republic era.

Can I research the history near Fort Benton?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Fort Benton will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

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