The many events of Montana’s long and colorful history have all contributed to the unique state it now is.
The historical events that defined Montana led to the growth of the state, its distinctive culture, and its lasting legacy that visitors travel from all over the country to experience today.
Historical Events that Defined Montana
- The Louisiana Purchase
- The Lewis and Clark Expedition
- The Discovery of Dinosaur Bones
- The Montana Gold Rush
- The Battle of the Little Bighorn
- The Arrival of the Northern Pacific Railway
- The Establishment of Glacier National Park
- The Smith Mine Disaster
The Louisiana Purchase (1803)
In 1803, the United States purchased around 827,000 square miles of land from France, which in effect almost doubled the size of the country. The land that was purchased sat west of the Mississippi River and led to the formation of parts or all of 15 states from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains.
Though it wasn’t known as Montana at the time, the United States acquired most of what would become the Treasure State in the Louisiana Purchase.
Thomas Jefferson paid $15 million for the gained land, which added up to the steal price of around four cents an acre.
The Louisiana Purchase wasn’t just integral to the creation of Montana, but also to the history of the entire country.
Historian and director of the New Orleans-based Eisenhower Center for American Studies, Douglas Brinkley, says per Smithsonian, “With the Declaration of Independence and the constitution, [the Louisiana Purchase] is one of the three things that created the modern United States.”
The Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804 – 06)
Following the Louisiana Purchase, Thomas Jefferson sent a military expedition west to explore the newly acquired territory. The expedition, also called the Corps of Discovery, was led by Jefferson’s personal secretary, Captain Meriwether Lewis, and the U.S. Secretary of War Lieutenant William Clark.
The expedition consisted of 31 men, one Shoshone woman—the famous Sacagawea—and her baby, traveling towards the Pacific Ocean coastline.
What Was the Purpose of the Lewis and Clark Expedition?
They’d been instructed to map a new path to the ocean, find the legendary Northwest Passage water route, connect with Native Americans, send back flora and fauna specimens for study, and record their findings.
Sacagawea served as an interpreter during the trip and also helped the men to identify edible plants, acquire horses and supplies, and prevented conflict with other tribes they came into contact with along the way.
Where Exactly Did the Lewis and Clark Expedition Go?
The Lewis and Clark Expedition began in Philadelphia and ended in Oregon, with a significant portion of the route passing through Montana.
Their trail covered more miles in Montana than any other state, beginning at the North Dakota border and continuing all the way to the Idaho border.
On their return, the Corps of Discovery split up. Lewis traveled north with half the men while Clark and Sacajawea stayed south and eventually came to the Yellowstone River.
How Did the Expedition Affect Montana?
The explorers left their legacy in Montana, with the Lewis and Clark Trail today a huge point of interest for the state’s tourism.
They passed, sometimes named, several local landmarks, including Decision Point, Fort Benton, the Great Falls of the Missouri, and Pompey’s Pillar National Monument.
Ultimately, the Lewis and Clark Expedition changed the history of Montana and the rest of the country by mapping uncharted land, making discoveries about plants and animals, and later regaling stories of their adventures in the west that stirred interest in other Americans.
Their journey inspired millions of others to migrate west, beginning the great westward expansion.
The Discovery of Dinosaur Bones (1854)
When it comes to paleontology, Montana is one of the world’s top destinations.
The state’s rich dinosaur history dates back to 1854 when naturalist Ferdinand Hayden discovered the remains of a dinosaur near Judith Landing in the Missouri River Breaks National Monument.
This marked the first instance of dinosaur fossils found in North America. Hayden discovered what paleontologist Joseph Leidy later called Trachodon, a duck-billed dinosaur.
The discovery was the beginning of dinosaur remains being unearthed in Montana and set the tradition for a long list