The museum is small but, it does have a very nice video of this area of the Missouri River and... read more
The museum is small but, it does have a very nice video of this area of the Missouri River and... read more
The junior ranger book has a fun scavenger hunt that kept the kids engaged, and they got their... read more
The Missouri Breaks Interpretive Center is located in Fort Benton. It is a new building, only 5 years old. It was built to resemble the white cliffs. It is a lovely building, blending right into the landscape. When you arrive check out a short video that will give an overview on the culture and the natural history of Fort Benton area. Fort Benton is a town that you don’t want to miss. Take time to come off the interstate and spend some time here. The Interpretive Center is a public-private partnership between the Bureau of Land Management, the city of Fort Benton and the River and Plains Society. If you have an annual national parks pass, the entrance fee is waived. Otherwise the fee is $2.00 for adults – kids under 16 is free. There is a nice walking path and great views of the river that is ¼ mile in length. It connects to a walking and biking trail extending along the Missouri River from one end of town to the other. The back patio has great views of the river and is built to look like an actual steamboat deck. It is very peaceful to sit out and listen to the birds and the river.
Inside the museum you can view the rifle the Nez Perce leader Chief Joseph surrendered on October 5, 1877 to General Nelson Miles at the Bear Paw Battlefield. We visited Bear Paw Battlefield the day before. That is a very moving place to visit also. If you want to do a river trip, the guides in the center can help you with that.
Children will enjoy the museum as there are educational programs for little ones to high school age. Dinosaurs, and animals found within the Missouri Breaks area and Montana are featured. And since you are on the Lewis and Clark trail, there is historical info on them also. We learned that the Missouri is the longest river in the United States.