Exploration
Lewis and Clark Pass the Crimson Bluffs, 1805
Townsend, Broadwater County
On July 24, 1805, the Corps of Discovery pushed up the Missouri through what is now Broadwater County. Meriwether Lewis noted a “remarkable bluff of a crimson coloured earth” banded with black and brick-red slate—the landmark now called the Crimson Bluffs near Townsend.
Clark scouted ahead on an Indian road, chased a wild horse, and camped short of the Three Forks. The main boats fought a strong current, mosquitoes, and island channels reshaped by beaver dams. Three Forks lay one day ahead.
The crimson cliffs still look much as Lewis described them. The day’s journal marks the final approach to the Missouri’s headwaters and the Shoshone country Sacagawea knew as home.
Frequently asked questions
What happened on July 24 in Montana history?
Lewis and Clark Pass the Crimson Bluffs, 1805. On July 24, 1805, the Corps of Discovery pushed up the Missouri through what is now Broadwater County. Meriwether Lewis noted a “remarkable bluff of a crimson coloured earth” banded with black and brick-red slate—the landmark now called the Crimson Bluffs near Townsend.
Where did this take place?
This July 24 event is associated with Townsend, Broadwater County.
When did this event happen?
It took place in 1805, on July 24.
Why does this day matter in Montana history?
The crimson cliffs still look much as Lewis described them. The day’s journal marks the final approach to the Missouri’s headwaters and the Shoshone country Sacagawea knew as home.
Topics: Lewis and Clark · Crimson Bluffs · Missouri River · Three Forks · 1805