Gates of the Mountains

Gates of the Mountains

On July 19, 1805, Meriwether Lewis wrote in his journal, "This evening we entered much of the most remarkable clifts that we have yet seen. These clifts rise from the waters edge on either side perpendicularly to the hight of 1,200 feet . . . from the singular appearance of this place I called it the gates of the rocky mountains."

The Gates of the Mountains is a canyon formed by the Missouri River. The portion of the Missouri River near the Gates of the Mountains was dammed in 1921 by the Holter Dam. The Gates of the Mountains area, part of the Helena National Forest, was set aside as a primitive area in 1949 and became a designated wilderness area in 1964.

The Mann Gulch fire, which began on August 4, 1949, occurred just north of the Gates of the Mountains Wilderness area.

Tours of the Gates of the Mountains have been offered intermittently since the 1880s and on a regular basis since 1930.

Sources at Lewis & Clark Library

Cheney, Roberta C. Names of the Face of Montana. 2nd ed. Missoula: Mountain Press Publishing Co., 1983. 113-114. [Shelfmark M 978.6 CHENEY]
Schroeder, John W. Historic Helena, 1864-1964: An Early-Day Photographic History of Montana's Scenic Capital City. 1st ed. Helena, Montana: Home Building and Loan Association, 1964. 5 and 65 [Shelfmark M 978.6615 S]
Tubbs, Stephanie A. "A Place of Singular Appearance." More From the Quarries of Last Chance Gulch: Volume 3. Helena, Montana: Helena Independent Record, 1998. 132-135. [Shelfmark M 978.6615 M]
Paladin, Vivian, and Jean Baucus. Helena: An Illustrated History. Helena, Montana: Bar-Wineglass Pub. Co., 1983. 99-100. [Shelfmark M 978.6615 P]
Nelson, Viola H. "The Hilger Family." Valleys of the Prickly Pear : A History of the Valleys of the Prickly Pear. Helena, Montana: Little Red Schoolhouse, 1988. 62-65. [Shelfmark M 978.66 V]
Forbis, Richard G. Archaeological Data From the Gates of the Mountains. Missoula, Montana: Dept. of Sociology and Anthropology, Montana State University, 1950. [Shelfmark M 978.6615 F]
Liffring, Bob. Tour Train Companion. Helena, Montana: Manx Publishing Co. 129-131. [Shelfmark M 978.66 L]
Ambrose Tubbs, Stephanie. "A Place of Singular Appearance." Helena Independent Record 1 May 1997. 6A.
Alt, Dave. "Gates of the Mountains: Old as the Hills." Montana Magazine. Jan-Feb. 1979. 26-27.
"Three-Day Horseback Trip Through Famous Gates of the Mountains Wild Area is Enjoyed by Riders." Helena Independent Record 8 August 1948.
Howard, Ella Mae. Lewis and Clark Exploration of Central Montana: Marias River to the Gates of the Mountains. Great Falls, Montana: Lewis and Clark Interpretive Association, c1993. [Shelfmark M978.8042 H]

Sources at the Montana Historical Society Research Center

"Gates of the Mountains," vertical file.
Ambrose Tubbs, Stephanie. "A Place of Singular Appearance." Helena Independent Record 1 May 1997. 6A.
Alt, Dave. "Gates of the Mountains: Old as the Hills." Montana Magazine. Jan-Feb. 1979. 26-27.
"Three-Day Horseback Trip Through Famous Gates of the Mountains Wild Area is Enjoyed by Riders." Helena Independent Record 8 August 1948.
Howard, Ella Mae. Lewis and Clark Exploration of Central Montana: Marias River to the Gates of the Mountains. Great Falls, Montana: Lewis and Clark Interpretive Association, c1993. [Shelfmark 978.02 H832L]
Helena Chamber of Commerce. "Helena, Montana: The Capitol City Welcomes You." Helena, Montana: Helena Chamber of Commerce, c1961. [Shelfmark PAM 4617]
Dougherty, Mary Hilger Reminiscence, 1933-1935. [Shelfmark SC602]
Murphy, Phil H. "Helena, Montana: Center of the Continental Divide Wilderness." Helena, Montana: Helena Chamber of Commerce, n.d. [Shelfmark MAP; B-1280]

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