JANUARY 2024 Ghost Towns and History of Montana Newsletter From The Montanian (Choteau), Aug. 20 1897 THE HAMILTON RANCH On a clear day, the sweeping views from here take in more that 400 square miles. Most of these lands look much as they have for centuries. Human travel routes haven't changed much either. Highway 278 mirrors very closely the course that Captain Clark and his crew took on their eastward trip in 1806- an "excellent road" in his words, that Native Americans had worn into the land over generations. At 7,460 feet above sea level, this mountain pass is one of the highest elevations travelled by members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Headquartered at the foot of this slope is the Hamilton Ranch. For generations the Hamilton Ranch was widely known as the Carroll Ranch- and it served as a vital link between the Big Hole and Beaverhead valleys. Its location at the base of this mountain pass made the ranch a perfect stopping point Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz for stagecoaches, cattle drives and virtually every other kind of traveler throughout the frontier era and beyond. For years the ranch housed a team of relief horses for the postal delivery service. Even after motor vehicles became common, bad weather could make the road impassable, forcing travelers to stop here. Family members recall that during the Great Depression no drifter was turned away hungry. Accessed via: montananewspapers.org
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