Beckman's Gasthof

A summary of the Beckman's explorations in our new Tiffin Phaeton.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Headwaters of the Missouri, Montana (CoD July 27-30, 1805)



The headwaters of the Missouri River are considered to be the confluence of 3 similar rivers, the Jefferson coming from the southwest, the Madison coming from the south and the Gallatin coming from the southeast. They are roughly the same size and flow, and drain a large valley to the south. Where they come together, the Missouri tumbles into more mountainous terrain. Lewis came upon the confluence early on the morning of July 27 and immediately recognized what Sacagawea had described. He ascended what is now known as Lewis Rock and mapped the area. Coming upriver, the first river to branch is the Gallatin. The first photo shows Pris with the Gallatin flowing right to left, behind her. The high point to her left is Lewis Rock. The Gallatin meets the Missouri about ¼ mile downstream from here, just in front of the cliff visible in the lower left of the photo. The second photo shows Pris at the confluence of the Jefferson and Madison, about ¼ mile above where the Gallatin comes in. The Madison is flowing in from the left, the Jefferson from behind her and the flow is going to the right.
The captains correctly selected the Jefferson River to follow into the moutains.

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