DAY 26 - HAVRE, MT TO GREAT FALLS, MT
JUNE 8, 2014

Our group had it's first serious problem of the trip.  When we tried to leave, one RV would not answer the call to travel.  Bob and Pat had to remain in Havre, safe in the RV park, and wait for Monday to get help with their problem.  We will all anxiously await their safe return to the group.

On day 26 we begin our journey from Havre, Montana on the way to Great Falls.  We are driving through “Big Sky” country.  Our first stop is the Marias River, site of a Lewis and Clark encampment on their journey Westward.  The river was named for Capt. Lewis’s cousin and was a point where the party had to choose which fork was the Missouri.  Also on this very site was an Indian massacre in 1865 and the point of the Manitoba railroad connecting Minneapolis with Butte, Montana.  A lot of history on such a small area.



The story of the Marias River.

Railroads are what opened the west to mass migration.

Next stop is Fort Benton.  Here we visited the river walk on the Missouri, visited Fort Benton and viewed the Museum of the Northern Great Plains, Homestead Village and Hornaday Gallery.  A former governor drowned in the river here.  At one time this was one of the roughest and bloodiest towns in the west!  The old toll bridge and hotel still stand, although cars are not allowed on the bridge.  The town and river look as they might have in the day.  Notice the photos of our fearless leaders deserting the town!



The Mighty Missouri.



Downtown Fort Benton



It's a foot bridge now.



Historic Hotel.

OK, the kids are busy.  Let's go!

We toured Fort Benton, which began as a trading post before becoming a military post in later years.  The original blockhouse is the only remaining original building in the fort.  I was able to get a fabulous recipe for a tasty trade whiskey.  See photo for ingredients and let me know how it tastes!  Fort Benton will stand as the birthplace of Montana.



The Fort.



Inside the Fort.

This stuff will grow hair on your chest, as well as other places.

We then saw the Montana Agriculture Center and the Hornaday Gallery.  The gallery presents the original buffalo that resided in the Smithsonian Institute and served as the model for the buffalo nickel!  What an amazing sight.  The Ag Center presented the history of events since the founding of the area and includes equipment and items from every generation.  The Homestead village recreated a town from the early days of Montana life complete with jail, bank, stores and homes.  Most all were real buildings which were moved here and did, indeed, see usage in their day.

Famous Buffalo.

Finally, we arrived in Great Falls at Dick’s RV Park, our home for the next three nights.  We had a wonderful group dinner at the Heritage Inn and celebrated Carol’s birthday.  A long but wonderful day as we prepare for more adventures tomorrow!

Carol celebrating her birthday.
We're not sure what Bob is doing.



Mark and Janice.