Glasgow, Montana
by Michele Kadison
Elevation: 2,090 feet.
On May 8, 1805 at the junction of two rivers, the members of the Lewis & Clark Expedition stopped to camp. They were approximately 18 miles southeast of what is now Glasgow, Montana. After exploring one of the rivers, Lewis commented that the water “possessed a peculiar whiteness” and named it the “Milk River.” Later the names of these rivers, the Milk and the Missouri, became better known as Glasgow began to develop and forge its special character.
In 1933 the Fort Peck Dam was built several miles south of Glasgow. The dam is one of the oldest and largest earth-filled hydraulic dams in the world, stretching across the Missouri River for over four miles. Fort Peck Lake, the largest body of water in Montana, is located in the area, with a whopping 1,600 miles of shoreline. The lake is host to the yearly Governor’s Cup Walleye Fishing Tournament, which is held the second weekend in July and is known for bringing visitors and participants from all over the nation and beyond.
Visiting the Fort Peck Dam Interpretive Center and Museum is a must for anyone interested in the history of the lake and the surrounding region. The Center is part of a partnership with Fort Peck Paleontology Inc., the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and includes fascinating exhibits and displays that cover historic and present day flora and fauna.
Don’t miss the Valley County Pioneer Museum in Glasgow. Here you will find many Native American artifacts as well as collections covering fossils, wildlife, the early railway, and aviation.
With its open ranges and rolling plains, Glasgow is an ideal locale for bird and wild animal watchers. Here you will see a wide variety of songbirds such as black-capped chickadees and mountain bluebirds as well as local animals such as red fox, coyotes, mule deer, and bugling elk.
For more information on the region and its events contact the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, the Bureau of Land Management in Glasgow, or the Fort Peck CMR Refuge Office on Highway 117.
Related posts:
- Fort Peck, Montana
- Montana Historic Hotels: Fort Peck, Montana
- Poplar, Montana
- Lewis and Clark Montana Expedition
- Sidney, Montana Vacations
[...] all water sports, fishing, boating, water skiing and wake boarding. It is also in Montana’s dinosaur bone exploration area. The hotel was originally built to house the managers and bosses of the Fort [...]