Fort Benton is like the quirky grandpa you look forward to seeing of Montana towns—full of history, a few surprises and some great stories to share. First of all, the town was nam Thomas Hart Benton, a U.S. Senator from Missouri who, fun fact, never actually visited Montana. Go figure.
Then there is Shep, the town’s most famous resident, according to many—a bronze dog statue that commemorates a real pup with a heartbreakingly loyal tale. Shep followed his owner’s casket to the train station and then spent five and a half years greeting every train, waiting for his owner to return. If that doesn’t tug at your heartstrings, then I don’t know what will.
Fort Benton also has some spicy history with the Whoop-Up Trail, a 240-mile stretch of road to Alberta that was basically the Wild West version of a bootlegging highway. Illegal whiskey was the name of the game, and let’s just say this trail helped make “Whoop-Up” a pretty fitting nickname.
The actual fort was built with strategy in mind—a quadrangle design, adobe walls and portholes for cannons and riflemen. If you’ve ever wondered what it’d look like to combine a fortress with an old Western saloon, this is it.
And let’s not forget the steamboat era (1859–1888), when an average of 20 boats a year made their way to Fort Benton. Also the seat of Choteau County, Fort Benton was known as the world’s most inland port during the steamboat era. Often called the birthplace of Montana, Fort Benton boomed with the discovery of gold in 1862. Saloons, dance halls, and other buildings sprang up for over a mile upriver of the Fort. However, in 1887, which ended the need to reach town by the river.
Fort Benton also anchored the famous 625-mile Mullan Road, connecting Montana to Walla Walla, Washington—essentially being the OG interstate of the region.
If you’re looking for a place to stay in Fort Benton, the Grand Union Hotel is an absolute must—it’s right on the Missouri River, ridiculously charming and also listed on the National Register of Historic Places (because, of course, it’s that cool and full of rich Montana history). A few years ago, we decided to up the ante and booked what’s known as their “most haunted room.” Armed with my phone camera set to record all night in search of some activity, I was fully prepared for some ghostly gossip. Sadly, it seemed the spirits were off duty that night—probably tired from haunting tourists all week. Or, maybe they don’t actually have haunted rooms, and that was part of their marketing to rent out their best and most expensive room! lol. But let me tell you, the hotel itself is drop-dead gorgeous (pun intended) and so cozy, you might not care if the only ghost you meet is your reflection in the mirror! Definitely worth checking out.
So, to summarize, we have whiskey smuggling, a very historic national landmark hotel and a dog that’ll make you cry while Fort Benton is a small town packed with big stories. It’s definitely the kind of place where history comes alive…and maybe pours you a drink. Cheers to that! It’s definitely worth checking out if you haven’t been there.
Sources: Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, National Park Service, Lewis and Clark Trail Experience, Grand Union Hotel
Photo via National Park Service
