What is the name of the historic fort in Fort Benton, Montana, and when was it first constructed?

The name of the historic fort in Fort Benton is known as the Old Fort Benton and it was first constructed in the year 1846 by the famous explorer, trader and trapper Kenneth McKenzie. The fort was constructed as a fur trade post to help rendezvous the buffalo-hunting parties from the Upper Missouri and as a trading post for Blackfoot Indians. Furthermore, it served as a key transportation hub for the Montana region as it provided steamship transportation to the goldfields in Helena and Virginia City.

The Old Fort Benton replaced the old fort which was constructed in 1840 by the American Fur Company. It was made of logs and it was prone to destruction by water, hence McKenzie, who was married to a mixed Native American blood settled on the area and constructed the new fort with adobe walls.

The fort served as a fur trading center until the arrival of the Canadian Merchants in 1869, and subsequently, it became a military post at the end of the Indian Wars. In conclusion, Old Fort Benton is rich in history and it is now a tourist attraction and a museum. Visitors can tour the fort and witness the rich history of the fort and the region it served in the late 1800s.