July 24th, 2023

Three Forks Montana History

Three Forks, Montana History 

In their journals Lewis and Clark wrote abundantly about Three Forks, Montana and its lively, mid-19-century history. Three Forks, at the confluence of the Madison, Jefferson, and Gallatin Rivers forms the great Missouri River.

Three Forks Montana History Headwaters State Park - Photo Brett Fagan 2017
Three Forks History Headwaters State Park

According to Lewis and Clark, the area was known for Blackfeet Indians and grizzlies (according to Lewis, these bear are a most tremenduous [sic] animal….), both of which imperiled the expedition. 

Three Forks, MT History: Fort Three Forks was established in 1810 by several mountain men from the Missouri Fur Company.

Leaders, Andrew Henry and Colonel Pierre Menard, intended to establish a trading post on this historic area of Three Forks.

Natives killed some of the men, and within months the cottonwood-constructed fort had been abandoned.

Three Forks, MT Real Estate Listings

1915 Corner of Main and Date St, Three Forks, Montana
1915 Corner of Main and Date St, Three Forks, MT

In 1862, seeking farmland on which to grow crops to feed the vast number of gold miners in the region, the Gallatin Town Company arrived to layout Gallatin City on the west side of the Missouri River, at the mouth of the Gallatin River, one of the three rivers forming the Missouri River.

Soon thereafter the city was moved to the east side of the Missouri because river traffic was much higher on that side; the new city was called Gallatin City II.

After burning in 1881, James Shedd’s Madison House became the site on which present day Three Forks was established. Today’s Sacajawea Hotel (aka, Madison Bridge House), built in 1910 houses a portion of the original Madison House.

Population ~2,100 – Near The Missouri River Headwaters – Elevation 4,081′ – 30 Miles West of Bozeman

Main Street 1917, Three Forks Montana
Main Street 1917, Three Forks, MT

By 1890, Gallatin City II had been abandoned and the Northern Pacific Railroad had set track. Seventeen years later, the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway laid line within a mile of Three Forks.

By 1911, the year of incorporation, Three Forks had close to 900 residents.

Talc deposits, among the world’s purest, are mined in the Three Forks, Montana area and are used in products like rubber, ceramics, paper, paint, plastic.

Also, consider visiting these Three Forks sites: Headwaters Heritage Museum, Lewis Rock, Lewis and Clark Encampment, Indian Cave, Fort Three Forks (aka Fort Henry), Sacajawea Capture Site, Net Parker Homestead, Fort Rock, Gallatin City, Headwaters State Park where the Missouri River begins.

Tags: 2020 Bozeman leaf schedule, bozeman fall leaf cleanup, Bozeman leaf pickup schedule, bozeman single family homes, City of Bozeman Fall Leaf Pickup, Downtown Bozeman Food, Food Downtown Bozeman, Fort Henry, Fort Rock, Fort Three Forks, Gallatin City, Gallatin City II, Gallatin City Montana, Gallatin River, Headwaters State Park, how many breweries in bozeman montana, how many breweries in montana, Indian Cave, Lewis and Clark Encampment, Lewis and Clark Expedition, Lewis Rock, luxury homes for sale in Montana, luxury homes in Montana, Missouri River, Missouri River Headwaters, montana waterfront homes for sale, Net Parker Homestead, Sacajawea Capture Site, Three Forks Montana history, Three Forks MT, where does the missouri river start

Taunya Fagan

Giving you the advantage

Contact