{"id":1,"ordinal":0,"modified":"2026-04-17 19:40:33","content_modified":"2026-04-17 19:40:33","featured":0,"title":"Early Montana","creator":null,"description":"<p>The earliest historical sites in Montana reflect the period of transition when European building ways and property ownership ideas marked a land long in use by Native Americans. \r\n\r\nThe nomadic lifestyle of Montana’s indigenous people resulted in portable shelters as ephemeral as any seasonal activity. Few extant structures remain from this period, teepee rings, cairns, and drive lines provide a glimpse of the patterns of the earliest peoples. Instead of monuments and buildings, knowledge of a given environment, natural landmarks, and a tribe’s interaction with a place are the cultural elements sustained across generations. Both the Sleeping Buffalo Rock—moved from its original locale and marked with a sign to preserve the knowledge of its existence—and the Wahkpa Chu’gn Buffalo Jump are well-preserved examples of the human hand in a vast land. \r\n\r\nEuropean traditions, however, favored permanent settlements with buildings and building ways maintained indefinitely. Although canvas tents and temporary structures provided shelter for early settlers, the establishment of forts, missions, and later towns instituted the tradition of permanent settlement and land ownership in a newly charted territory. \r\n\r\nThe earliest extant buildings in Montana are representative of the frontier era—trading posts and military buildings fortified for defense, missions established to convert native peoples, and a few cabins and town buildings preserved by the descendants of Montana’s pioneers. Settlement patterns are those of an early era, situated on waterways or organically grown  around mines. Despite the loss of temporary and transitional buildings, Montana’s early sites identified with historical markers tell a story of place, of human activity, and of the persistence of culture.</p>","postscript_text":"","tour_img":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/2067191539d0d9d7f4c5540f993afacb.jpg","items":[{"id":1,"title":"Fort Benton Historic District","latitude":47.81748231184075592636872897855937480926513671875,"longitude":-110.66737996684076961173559539020061492919921875,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/2067191539d0d9d7f4c5540f993afacb.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/2067191539d0d9d7f4c5540f993afacb.jpg","subtitle":"National Historic Landmark","address":"Fort Benton Historic District boundaries: Front Street (1220 through 1900 Block), levee, and bridge, Fort Benton, MT","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":2,"title":"I. G. Baker Home","latitude":47.81881313854744774971550214104354381561279296875,"longitude":-110.6661522388458251953125,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/807f8c9759d003dbbd38ad18da690e3e.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/807f8c9759d003dbbd38ad18da690e3e.jpg","subtitle":"Fort Benton Historic District","address":"1610 Front Street, Fort Benton, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":3,"title":"Glover Cabin","latitude":46.1337357000000025664121494628489017486572265625,"longitude":-112.9658177999999679741449654102325439453125,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/0acc7c0c3820f2abc2a3b01b315da4c7.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/0acc7c0c3820f2abc2a3b01b315da4c7.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":"Washoe Park, Anaconda, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":5,"title":"Fort Assinniboine Historic District","latitude":48.50275838574300024674812448211014270782470703125,"longitude":-109.793715476989973467425443232059478759765625,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/1391ec5369023d1352c8aa29becb67de.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/1391ec5369023d1352c8aa29becb67de.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":"County Road 82nd Avenue West, 0.5 mi. SE of US 87, Havre, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":6,"title":"Wahkpa Chu'gn Buffalo Jump","latitude":48.5589753000000001748048816807568073272705078125,"longitude":-109.71305879999999888241291046142578125,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/722c18b2c81acb6d6500578bdd822bed.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/722c18b2c81acb6d6500578bdd822bed.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":"Wahkpa Chu'gn Archaeological Site, 2nd Street NW, Havre, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":7,"title":"Fort Connah","latitude":47.4055238828315310684047290123999118804931640625,"longitude":-114.0879428386688232421875,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/b38d71a3cf794a6b3097a827d2f2e3bd.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/b38d71a3cf794a6b3097a827d2f2e3bd.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":"US Route 93, St. Ignatius, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":8,"title":"Pioneer Cabin","latitude":46.58499136100800086524031939916312694549560546875,"longitude":-112.04308634280999967813841067254543304443359375,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/8b6f9fbd2ba65c874ad09794bdca700e.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/8b6f9fbd2ba65c874ad09794bdca700e.jpg","subtitle":"Helena Historic District","address":"208 South Park Avenue, Helena, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":9,"title":"Reeder's Alley","latitude":46.58481830333521855891376617364585399627685546875,"longitude":-112.043270766735076904296875,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/21549e40bcf26af2115d74052bbcdabd.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/21549e40bcf26af2115d74052bbcdabd.jpg","subtitle":"Helena Historic District","address":"105-206 Reeder's Alley, Helena, Montana \r\n(Southwest corner downtown off South Park Avenue)","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":11,"title":"Finney House","latitude":45.30765009999999648471202817745506763458251953125,"longitude":-111.96876930000001948428689502179622650146484375,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/9fa71a18a68a9120569449986b4ac35e.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/9fa71a18a68a9120569449986b4ac35e.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":"Corner of Main and  California Streets, Nevada City, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":10,"title":"Dr. Don L. Byam Residence","latitude":45.3068515684259836007186095230281352996826171875,"longitude":-111.96735526979909991496242582798004150390625,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/462e0e7ceebed1a645c639e62b2b82b5.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/462e0e7ceebed1a645c639e62b2b82b5.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":"Main Street, Nevada City, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":12,"title":"Virginia City Historic District","latitude":45.29357113158426528798372601158916950225830078125,"longitude":-111.94475547022574346556211821734905242919921875,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/1b3420f13ac123fbd83acdbec32d89d8.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/1b3420f13ac123fbd83acdbec32d89d8.jpg","subtitle":"National Historic Landmark","address":"As seen on the USGS 15' Virginia City, Montana map, beginning at the northeastern corner of the town limits of Virginia City (point A), the national historic landmark boundary runs southeasterly along the eastern town boundary to the southeast corner (point B); thence southwesterly for about one and a half miles to a peak (point C) approximately 6320 feet in elevation, near the midpoint of the north line of Section 35, T6S, R3W; thence southwesterly for approximately one mile to a peak (point D) located in the northeast quarter of Section 34, T6S, R3W, approximately one-quarter miles southwest of the El Fleeta Mine; thence northwesterly approximately one and three-eighths miles to a peak (point E) located near the southeast corner of Section 21, T6S, R3W, and labeled as 6236 feet in altitude; thence northwesterly approximately one and one-eighth miles to a peak (point F) just south of the midpoint of the north line of Section 22, T6S, R3W, labeled as 5915 feet in altitude; thence southeasterly approximately one and two-thirds miles to the point of origin.\r\nVirginia City, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":14,"title":"Fort Missoula Historic District","latitude":46.84207474545399918497423641383647918701171875,"longitude":-114.05548246910001353171537630259990692138671875,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/70f65c378d0f4c13a774de3fada1145b.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/70f65c378d0f4c13a774de3fada1145b.jpg","subtitle":"(addendum and boundary increase)","address":"Intersection of Reserve Street and South Avenue, Missoula, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":13,"title":"Allen and Millard Bank","latitude":45.29337653182199829871024121530354022979736328125,"longitude":-111.94511551403002158622257411479949951171875,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/e28d89f38985b37d1fd1f280b785d659.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/e28d89f38985b37d1fd1f280b785d659.jpg","subtitle":"Virginia City National Historic Landmark District","address":"120 West Wallace Street, Virginia City, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":15,"title":"Sleeping Buffalo Rock","latitude":48.4694793000000032634488889016211032867431640625,"longitude":-107.548737500000015643308870494365692138671875,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/2a947191beeffc7504c2b717de5330ea.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/2a947191beeffc7504c2b717de5330ea.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":"West of Saco, Saco, Montana\r\nJunction of Montana Highway 243 and US Highway 2","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":16,"title":"Deer Lodge Central Business Historic District","latitude":46.39859044628574480384486378170549869537353515625,"longitude":-112.735269668140745125128887593746185302734375,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/a946c95058499093e67d1e61617a83ee.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/a946c95058499093e67d1e61617a83ee.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":"Bounded Cottonwood Avenue to north, Montana Avenue to south, 2nd Street to west and 4th Street to east, Deer Lodge, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":17,"title":"St. Mary's Mission Historic District","latitude":46.508719845922001923099742271006107330322265625,"longitude":-114.09796357154999668637174181640148162841796875,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/150ffad8458369792038b87384363207.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/150ffad8458369792038b87384363207.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":"West end of 4th Street, Stevensville, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":18,"title":"Fort Owen State Monument","latitude":46.52001800000000031332092476077377796173095703125,"longitude":-114.0974489999999832434696145355701446533203125,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/d053e8595afee93c8a8f18a8e6bc97da.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/d053e8595afee93c8a8f18a8e6bc97da.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":"0.5 Miles Northwest of Stevensville, Stevensville, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":19,"title":"Billings Old Town Historic District","latitude":45.776658400000002302476787008345127105712890625,"longitude":-108.5040013999999928273609839379787445068359375,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/3e97c3b33b548b57c4d5854d0689fa20.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/3e97c3b33b548b57c4d5854d0689fa20.jpg","subtitle":null,"address":"Bounded by Montana Avenue on north, South 26th Street on east, 1st Avenue South on south, and South 30th Street on west, Billings, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}},{"id":2212,"title":"Bannack Historic District","latitude":45.161020100000001775697455741465091705322265625,"longitude":-112.99386390000000801592250354588031768798828125,"thumbnail":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/square_thumbnails/60a39a83188d7687aa789f9d8cd17a66.jpg","fullsize":"https://mail.historicmt.org/files/fullsize/60a39a83188d7687aa789f9d8cd17a66.jpg","subtitle":"National Historic Landmark","address":"25 miles west-southwest of Dillon off MT Highway 278, Montana","custom":{"subtitle":null,"text":null}}]}