The Missouri River was Lewis and Clark’s guide and primary route to the Northwest Passage and the Pacific Ocean. As they traveled the river through what is now the Upper Missouri River Breaks in Montana, they noted the beautiful white cliffs and black bluffs, as well as the various flora and fauna. Lewis and Clark had heard of the Rocky Mountains, but they did not know that the Missouri River would lead them all the way to those famed mountains, which became one of the biggest obstacles to the entire expedition.

There were several different Indian tribes living in this area when Lewis and Clark traveled the Missouri River. These Native people had long been trading furs and buffalo robes with fur traders for goods such as beads, guns, blankets, knives, cookware, and cloth.

At the Missouri Breaks Interpretive Center, visitors can enjoy hands on displays, educational programs, and examine the natural and cultural history of the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument. Enjoy the magnificent Missouri River from the steamboat shaped patio, and view native plants and wildlife displays. Other nearby attractions include Old Fort Benton, the Museum of the Upper Missouri, the State of Montana's Museum of the Northern Great Plains (also known as the Montana Agricultural Center) and Homestead Village, the Hornaday Smithsonian Buffalo Gallery, the Overholser Research Center, and the Schwinden Library.

Call 1-877-256-3252, or visit http://www.blm.gov/mt/st/en/fo/umrbnm/interpcenter.html for more information concerning operating hours, fees, and directions.

Credits and Sources:

Content for this Next Exit History site sponsored by the Lewis & Clark Trail Heritage Foundation. For more information visit http://lewisandclark.org/.

Bureau of Land Management. “Missouri Breaks Interpretive Center.” Accessed August 27, 2014. http://www.blm.gov/mt/st/en/fo/umrbnm/interpcenter.html.

Lewis, Meriwether, William Clark, and Anthony Brandt. The Journals of Lewis and Clark. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Adventure Classics, 2002.

 

River & Plains Society. “Upper Missouri River Breaks Interpretive Center.”  Accessed May 22, 2014. http://www.fortbenton.com/museums/interpcenter.html.