The Changes

Northern Pacific

Early travelers came to Montana following the Missouri River. From the rivers, trappers and explorers headed overland following Indian trails or blazing their own. Recognizing a need for transportation in the West, the U.S. government authorized exploration routes across the West in the early 1850's. Soon, the land between Minnesota to the Pacific Coast was surveyed and eventually a transcontinental railroad crossed Montana. By the mid 1880's stagecoach and wagon travel was gradually replaced with railroads. Among the Montana railroads, Northern pacific was the most popular.

Last Modified on: 1/30/2003