Fort Benton, Malta

From Jose:

After Great Falls we got on US-2. Looks like we will stay on US-2 for a long time, almost to Michigan. We spent one night in Fort Benton, mainly because it was the right distance away.

Fort Benton turned out to be a cozy little town, population about 1500, on the banks of the Missouri River. Originally a trading hub because of the river, it changed with the advent of the railroad. But they have transformed the town into a kind of living museum, with historical markers and signs, the old buildings renovated and still in use, and a great bike path along the river to see it all.  Needless to say, our bikes really shone that day. (Continued huge thanks to Maria and Chad for transforming our trip).

My favorite story from this town is about Shep, a dog who lived nearby with his shepherd master. When the master died and his body was shipped back east by rail, Shep continued to go to the rail station every day for over five years to meet every incoming train, looking for his master. Check out the complete story in the Fort Benton website.  We saw the Shep statue in the middle of town and his actual burial site in the outskirts (from a distance).

A couple of days after Ft Benton we ended up in Malta, Montana, home of the Great Plains Dinosaur Museum and its next door neighbor, the Phillips County Museum. Both were spectacular. I thought of Josh and Isa, who are into dinosaurs. (Sorry  Isa, they did not have any dinosaur eggs). They did have Elvis, a pretty complete, 3D fossil. Most fossils found have been crushed by the rocks and sediments accumulated above. This did not happen to Elvis (hence 3D), which gives the archaeologists a better idea how everything fit together. You can even see the arrangement of tendons that holds the tail up.

Another dog story from this museum is "Dick", a sheepdog who pulled his 12 yo master 16 miles over snow-blocked roads to see a doctor.

And an original "wheelchair".

Now in Glasgow, Montana.  Stay tuned.

Maguire trying to eat Shep - grrr...