Fort Missoula, Powder Magazine, Missoula, Missoula County, MT
Summary
Significance: Fear of the recent Indian uprisings led to the establishment of a military post here, six miles southeast of Hell Gate Pass, to protect the Mullan Road. This all important link between Walla Walla, Washington and Fort Benton, Montana had been established for the defense of the northwest territory. Closely associated with the famous march of Chief Joseph and his Nez Perce Indians in their flight to freedom, this fort has subsequently sheltered three generations of infantry soldiers. Unlike many western military posts, abandoned after the Indian threat subsided in the 1880's, Fort Missoula has had an almost continuous history of use, through four wars and close to 90 years of crises. The Powder Magazine built of native stone with a protective ceiling of solid logs covered by two feet of earth, is still used today to store ammunition. Records indicate that the building was built in 1878 at a cost of $485. Little maintenance has been necessary except for needed shingling of the gable roof.
Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: FN-13
Survey number: HABS MT-13
Building/structure dates: 1878 Initial Construction
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