Rattlesnake Creek enters the Clark Fork River across from this point, completing the journey from its headwaters high in the Rattlesnake National Wilderness Area. Missoula’s first building was a two-room log cabin constructed by William T. Hamilton in 1858 near the mouth of the creek. Hamilton built the cabin to serve as both his home and as a trading post. The building also housed the town’s post office for several years. Hamilton was elected county sheriff in 1861.

When the Stevens Bridge (located near St. Patrick Hospital) washed out in 1869, William Burmester operated a ferry near the mouth of Rattlesnake Creek as the primary means of crossing the Clark Fork within the present town’s limits. It continued as such until the Higgins Avenue Bridge was constructed in 1873.

In 1897, lumber baron Thomas Greenough contracted Missoula architect A.J. Gibson to design and built a mansion on the banks of the Rattlesnake approximately three blocks north of its mouth. In 1902, Greenough’s widow, Tennie Epperson Greenough, donated 20 acres of land along Rattlesnake Creek to the City for its first public park, which was named Greenough

Park in honor of its benefactor.

Rattlesnake Creek provided water power to run Missoula’s first lumber and flour mill west of the creek. The clear waters of Rattlesnake Creek served as Missoula’s drinking water supply until 1983.