Montanakids.com | Official Montana Website
HISTORY & PREHISTORY

9. Great Falls

Updated: August 7, 2020

Great Falls of the Missouri River.
Great Falls of the Missouri River.

On the afternoon of June 13, 1805, the expedition arrived at the first of the five falls. Lewis described the falls and made careful notes of the heights of each. The first and highest stood at almost 90 feet. Lewis didn't have much more time to appreciate the view before being chased into the river by yet another grizzly bear.

The route around the series of falls presented one of the greatest obstacles faced by the expedition. They had to pass through 18 miles of mosquitoes, gnats, rattlesnakes, and grizzlies. Men in moccasins, pulling wagons with wheels cut from tree-trunks, hauled six canoes and all their baggage over rutted buffalo trail covered in cactus. It took them nearly a month and eight trips to get all of their gear around the falls.


Updated: August 7, 2020

<< Go Back A Page


Thanks for visiting the Montana Kids' Site! We hope you've found the information both educational and entertaining. If you have comments or suggestions on ways we can improve the site please send us email at montanakids@visitmt.com.

You can also help your family plan a trip to Montana. Have your folks request a statewide travel packet by clicking here.


All contents © 2023, Montana Office of Tourism and Business Development. All rights reserved. Please visit us again at http://montanakids.com

Parents try visitmt.com mt.gov COOL MONTANA STORIES HISTORY & PREHISTORY PLANTS & ANIMALS THINGS TO SEE & DO ACTIVITIES & GAMES FACTS & FIGURES AGRICULTURE & BUSINESS KIDS HOME