The Treasure State joined the Union on November 8, 1889, but Fort Benton existed over 40 years before that. It’s one of the oldest settlements in the American West, and well over a century years later, it still has its original charm.

Fort Benton is called the Birthplace of Montana.

J. Stephen Conn / Flickr This small city has a big history. Lewis and Clark explored the area in 1805, when the Blackfeet Indians called it home. Fort Benton eventually became known as a robe trading post.

The discovery of gold in the Montana and Idaho territories brought a new wave of people to the area.

Roger W / Flickr Fortune-seekers, merchants and madams moved to town. Its riverside location made it a crucial link between Missouri and Walla Walla, Washington. At one time it was known as the world’s Innermost port.

Fort Benton is now a National Historic Landmark.

Jimmy Emerson, DVM / Flickr It’s also on the National Register for Historic Places and a Preserve America City. This means that you can explore almost 200 years of frontier history when you visit.

The city itself might be small, but you won’t run out of things to see and do here…

J. Stephen Conn / Flickr … especially if you’re a history buff.

Walk across the Fort Benton Bridge, called the Bridge to Nowhere.

Remdog23 / TripAdvisor The bridge was built in 1888 as a toll bridge. Vehicles haven’t been allowed on it since 1963, but pedestrians are still welcome.

If you’re there between May and September, you can visit the historic old Fort Benton.

Historic old Fort Benton / TripAdvisor The remaining monument to the old fur trading days of Fort Benton sits on the banks of the Missouri River. Visitors will see rooms filled with period furniture, the old trade store with buffalo robes, and other goods used for trading.

Check out the Old Engine House, Fort Benton’s first firehouse.

J. Stephen Conn / Flickr It still contains the original hand pumper that came upriver by steamboat. The building was later used as the designated City Hall.

Stop by and pay your respects to Old Shep.

J. Stephen Conn / Flickr The statue serves as a memorial to Shep, the most loyal dog in Montana. In 1936, a sheepherder became ill and was brought to the St. Clare Hospital in Fort Benton. Shep, his dog, followed him and set up vigil outside the hospital door. The man ended up dying, and his family requested that the body be sent home. Shep witnessed his owner’s body being placed on the train and proceeded to wait at the train station every single day for his return. The railroad employees fed him and took care of him until he died.

Spend the night at the historic Grand Union Hotel.

J. Stephen Conn / Flickr The onsite Union Grille Restaurant serves delicious food in an elegant setting, and the beautifully restored rooms are luxurious but comfortable.

You might come to Fort Benton a curious tourist, but you’ll leave a history buff.

J. Stephen Conn / Flickr Our historic towns tend to have that effect on people.

Ready to visit Fort Benton? If you can’t make it yet, start with one of these other historic Montana towns.

J. Stephen Conn / Flickr

This small city has a big history. Lewis and Clark explored the area in 1805, when the Blackfeet Indians called it home. Fort Benton eventually became known as a robe trading post.

Roger W / Flickr

Fortune-seekers, merchants and madams moved to town. Its riverside location made it a crucial link between Missouri and Walla Walla, Washington. At one time it was known as the world’s Innermost port.

Jimmy Emerson, DVM / Flickr

It’s also on the National Register for Historic Places and a Preserve America City. This means that you can explore almost 200 years of frontier history when you visit.

… especially if you’re a history buff.

Remdog23 / TripAdvisor

The bridge was built in 1888 as a toll bridge. Vehicles haven’t been allowed on it since 1963, but pedestrians are still welcome.

Historic old Fort Benton / TripAdvisor

The remaining monument to the old fur trading days of Fort Benton sits on the banks of the Missouri River. Visitors will see rooms filled with period furniture, the old trade store with buffalo robes, and other goods used for trading.

It still contains the original hand pumper that came upriver by steamboat. The building was later used as the designated City Hall.

The statue serves as a memorial to Shep, the most loyal dog in Montana. In 1936, a sheepherder became ill and was brought to the St. Clare Hospital in Fort Benton. Shep, his dog, followed him and set up vigil outside the hospital door. The man ended up dying, and his family requested that the body be sent home. Shep witnessed his owner’s body being placed on the train and proceeded to wait at the train station every single day for his return. The railroad employees fed him and took care of him until he died.

The onsite Union Grille Restaurant serves delicious food in an elegant setting, and the beautifully restored rooms are luxurious but comfortable.

Our historic towns tend to have that effect on people.

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Address: Fort Benton, MT 59442, USA