Podcast 14 - Stop 10 - Havre, MT

Days 19 and 20 bring our expedition to Havre, Montana, marking our entry into the vast, sweeping plains of "Big Sky" country following a 364-mile drive from the North Dakota Badlands. While the original Corps of Discovery navigated the Missouri River just to the south and Captain Lewis explored the Marias River further west during the 1806 return journey, this two-day stop provides a fascinating look at the diverse cultures, military history, and frontier booms that followed in the explorers' wake.During this stop, the tour shifts focus to the grit and ingenuity of later Western settlement and the region's deep Indigenous history. Highlights for this leg of the journey include:Havre Beneath the Streets: An included guided tour exploring a subterranean frontier town. When fire destroyed Havre's above-ground wooden buildings, resourceful residents and business owners moved underground, creating a network of tunnels connecting a bank, saloon, drugstore, funeral parlor, and a Chinese laundry.Wahkpa Chu’gn Buffalo Jump: An optional visit to a prehistoric Native American bison kill site and archaeological dig to better understand the ancient hunting practices of the Plains Indians.Historic Fort Assinniboine: An optional excursion to explore one of Montana's most significant 19th-century military posts.Blaine County Museum (Chinook, MT): Travelers can opt to visit this rich heritage center, which features immersive exhibits on the grueling homesteading era, the agricultural boom sparked by the Great Northern Railway, and the deep cultural roots of the Gros Ventre (A'aninin) and Assiniboine (Nakoda) peoples. The museum also features a multimedia presentation on the tragic Nez Perce War of 1877 and the nearby Bear Paw Battlefield.H. Earl Clack Memorial Museum: Another optional museum stop in Havre where visitors can dive deeper into the regional history and paleontology of North Central Montana.Guests will also enjoy a classic campground cookout with fellow travelers, making it the perfect time to share stories of the road before the caravan presses onward toward the towering peaks of Glacier National Park.